The Music Department at Seattle Pacific is for the professionally minded, conservatory-level student and those engaged in varying degree programs across campus — for the student who has 15 years of formal training, and the student who just started.
The Music Department at Seattle Pacific offers the Seattle Advantage. Nestled on the lush canal side of Queen Anne Hill in the heart of Seattle, we have some of the best teaching artists in the country on our faculty. Our students have access to the diversity of culture of Seattle and the full breadth of the music industry.
In the Music Department, our goal is to enable our students to create their own music. Our Music Production program is preparing students for professional audio/visual work. Serving as both a performance hall and state-of-the-art recording and music production facility, the recently built Nickerson Studios has become a game changer for our students and a distinctive of our university.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, we have spent much of the last five years reimagining our entire music curriculum for all students. By flipping our programs upside down, we place the emphasis of control on the student and their creativity. Our project-based curriculum is designed to send the student out into the world with their careers already started. Learn more by checking out our programs and events.
What's Happening in the Music Department?
2024 SPU Music Competition Winners
Voice: Josephine Partridge, soprano - The Girl in 14G Music by Jeanine Tesori & Lyrics by Dick Scanlan
Instrumental: Derek Easterday, alto saxophone - Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano, Mvmt. I by Jacques Ibert
Recording: Matthew Spickelmier - Swan Song by Victoria Canal
Puget Sound Chapter of NATS Competition
1st Place in Lower Post HS Musical Theatre TBB - Adam Haagenson
1st Place in Lower Post HS Classical TBB - Sean Sheveland
1st Place in Lower Post HS Commercial Music Treble - Genevieve Bress*
* Has advanced to the National Seminfinals in NATS in Commercial Music Lower College Treble Category
Music Therapy Program
Since 2013, the Seattle Symphony has partnered with Mary's Place, which shelters families experiencing homelessness, to present the annual Lullaby Project. The Lullaby Project is a workshop series where Seattle Symphony musicians and students from Seattle Pacific University's Music Therapy program come alongside parents and children in crisis situations to create personal lullabies.
Explore Nickerson Studios without leaving home through Seattle Pacific’s new 360 Virtual Tour! You can also check out other campus buildings — and soar over some of our favorite Northwest highlights.