School of MusicAt a Glance
The University of South Carolina’s School of Music is nationally respected for professional musician career preparation and leadership in music teaching, performance, composition, industry, research and related fields.
Beyond sought-after academics, the school is nationally recognized for its music education models, learning centers and community engagement programs. Students can grow as performers and future professionals in the school’s extensive range of performance venues — including the renowned Koger Center for the Arts — which host more than 300 concerts and recitals each year.
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Honors student builds career path in engineering, while nurturing his passion for music
Aidan Billings followed his head and his heart when he came to the University of South Carolina. Billings, who also is in the South Carolina Honors College, didn’t think a career as a musician would provide the income he wanted for his life, so he chose engineering for that aspect. But the second violinist in USC’s Symphony Orchestra says he loves playing classical music and does it professionally with several orchestras in the state.
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Class of 2025
As the Class of 2025 prepares to walk across the commencement stage, graduates leave the University of South Carolina with memories of enduring friendships, newfound passions, supportive mentors and life-changing experiences.
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2025 Autism Acceptance Month: USC faculty experts list
April is Autism Acceptance Month. The CDC estimates that one out of every 36 eight-year-olds and one in 45 adults is affected by autism, a lifelong developmental disorder. As South Carolina’s leader in health sciences, USC has researchers across disciplines who specialize in autism.
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USC celebrates 2025 Governor's Award for the Arts winners
The Koger Center, USC School of Music professor Gail Barnes and USC School of Visual Arts and Design alumnus Wade Sellers have been named winners of the 2025 Governor’s Awards for the Arts by the South Carolina Arts Commission, recognizing exceptional practice or support of contemporary and traditional art forms.
Spark: Music Leadership
The School of Music is home to Spark, the nation’s most comprehensive entity for the study of music leadership. The program, which prioritizes health and wellness for all music students and faculty and staff members, supplements a traditional music school experience by preparing musicians for vibrant, sustainable futures. The program mixes coursework, project support, guest residencies, advocacy, entrepreneurship, community engagement instruction and other initiatives to foster an unparalleled environment of creative learning, skill development, collaboration and personal exploration.
SPARK
