BM - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

The Bachelor of Music in Music Performance combines intensive applied study of Western classical music with the superb academics of a major research university situated in a global cultural capital. Students in the performance concentration study individually with world-class performers and teachers, participate fully in a range of large and small ensembles, and pursue rigorous coursework in music theory, history, and analysis. Across the major, frequent performance opportunities, open to students regardless of class standing, ensure that each student gains extensive experience in a wide variety of performance contexts. The small, collaborative nature of the program guarantees students tailored individual attention from faculty throughout the Music Department.

Music Performance Faculty

Boris Allakhverdyan
Continuing Lecturer - Clarinet Performance, Principal Clarinet LA Philharmonic
Ji Young An
Continuing Lecturer - Violin Performance
Jan Berry Baker
Associate Dean of Faculty Mentoring and Community Relations, Professor - Saxophone, Head of Woodwinds, Vice Chair of the Department of Music Performance, Education & Composition
James Bass
Professor and Chair of the Department of Music Performance, Education & Composition, Director of Choral Studies
John Buffett
Lecturer - Choral Studies, Voice
Christoph Bull
Adjunct Professor - Organ Performance
Wendy Caldwell
Continuing Lecturer - Vocal Coaching
Noel Cano Hearn
Lecturer - Alexander Technique and Music Education
Che-Yen Chen
Professor - Viola Performance
Gloria Cheng
Distinguished Adjunct Professor - Contemporary Music, Performance Studies
Vladimir Chernov
Distinguished Professor - Voice Performance
Travis J. Cross
Professor - Conducting, Director of Bands
James Darrah
Professor - Director of Opera UCLA
Jonathan Davis
Senior Continuing Lecturer - Oboe Performance
Michael Dean
Professor - Voice Performance
Theresa Dimond
Continuing Lecturer - Percussion Performance
Inna Faliks
Professor - Head of Piano Performance
Cheryl Lin Fielding
Continuing Lecturer - Vocal Diction and Vocal Coaching
Aubrey Foard
Continuing Lecturer - Tuba Performance
Juliana Gondek
Distinguished Professor - Voice Performance
Gregory Goodall
Continuing Lecturer - Percussion Performance
Catherine Gregory
Lecturer - Flute Performance, Woodwind Chamber Music, Director of the Gluck Fellowship Program
Rakefet Hak
Senior Continuing Lecturer - Opera UCLA
Chris Hanulik
Adjunct Professor - String Bass Performance; Principal Bass LA Phil
Ben Hong
Lecturer - Cello Performance
David Kaplan
Inaugural Shapiro Family Professor in Piano Performance, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Music Performance, Education & Composition
William Kinderman
Distinguished Professor and Elaine Krown Klein Professor in Performance Studies
Victoria Kirsch
Continuing Lecturer - Vocal Coaching
James Lent
Continuing Lecturer - Collaborative Piano
Jens Lindemann
Distinguished Professor - Trumpet Performance
Iris Malkin
Continuing Lecturer - Vocal Coaching
Varty Manouelian
Continuing Lecturer - Violin Performance, Violin LA Philharmonic
Justin McManus
Assistant Professor - Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands
James Miller
Continuing Lecturer - Trombone Performance, Associate Principal Trombone LA Phil
Lou Anne Neill
Continuing Lecturer - Harp Performance, Harp LA Philharmonic
Movses Pogossian
Distinguished Professor of Violin; Founder and Advisor, Armenian Music Program - Music Performance
Joshua Ranz
Continuing Lecturer - Clarinet Performance
Amy Sanchez
Continuing Lecturer - Horn Performance
Benjamin Smolen
Lecturer - Flute Performance
John Steinmetz
Continuing Lecturer - Bassoon Performance
Lucy Yates
Continuing Lecturer - Vocal Diction and Vocal Coaching
Inna Faliks Premieres Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer
On November 15, 2025, Casa da Música in Porto hosted the world premiere of Gabriel Prokofiev’s Concerto for Minimoog Synthesizer and Orchestra, a groundbreaking work that bridges electronic and classical traditions. The
Opera UCLA's The Turn of the Screw Explores Themes of Puppetry, Control.
The opera, which revolves around a governess who encounters ghosts while acting as a caretaker for two children, experiments with themes of constantly being puppeted, said assistant director Katya Lynch. 
Opera UCLA revives haunting classic to new ears with ‘The Turn of the Screw’
From the Daily Bruin: Based on Henry James’ 1898 novella of the same name, the story follows a governess sent to a remote estate to care for two children whom
Dec 4 Thu
7:00pm
Free
chamber-music, classical
Camarades
UCLA Camarades (“The Music of Friends”) is the title given to the chamber music program that is guided and driven by the String Department. It offers superior coaching to all
Band Room, 1345 Schoenberg Music Building Learn More
Dec 5 Fri
1:00pm
Free
classical
Advanced Vocal Literature & Diction Class Recital
The Advanced Vocal Literature class, featuring UCLA’s most advanced classical singers under the direction of Professor Juliana Gondek and collaborative pianist Victoria Kirsch, present an eclectic mix of English and
Ensemble Room: Ostin Music Center Learn More
Dec 5 Fri
8:00pm
Free
classical, contemporary
UCLA Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band
The UCLA Symphonic Band performs for the first time this academic year and the first time with conductor Justin McManus, recently appointed director of athletic bands, associate director of bands,
Schoenberg Hall Learn More

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