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School of Music • Asheville, North Carolina
Quick Take
Blue Ridge University's music school is a mid-sized program in Asheville, NC, offering undergraduate degrees in classical performance, jazz studies, commercial music, songwriting, and music production. Students benefit from Asheville's nationally celebrated music culture — indie folk, bluegrass, experimental, and jazz — alongside a supportive faculty, modern facilities, and a creative campus community in the heart of the southern Appalachians.
Blue Ridge at a Glance
| Program | |
| School / Division | School of Music |
| Setting | public |
| Reliigous Affliation | |
| Program Size | medium |
| Genres / Styles | choral, classical, folk, jazz, popular |
| Primary Instrument | bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice |
| Areas of Study | engineering/technology, jazz, performance, popular music, songwriting |
| Degrees Offered | |
| Musical Selectivity | selective |
| NASM Accreditation | |
| Admissions | |
| Academic Selectivity | selective |
| Average GPA | 3.4 |
| Application Deadline | Dec 1 (priority) | Feb 1 (regular) |
| Auditions | |
| Audition | |
| Audition Competitiveness | selective |
| Audition Window | Jan–Mar |
| Prescreening | is not required |
| Location | |
| City / State | Asheville, North Carolina |
Always confirm deadlines and requirements directly with the Blue Ridge website
.
Program Overview
The music program at Blue Ridge is medium in size and a school within a university.
Music Genre/Style Strengths
Blue Ridge supports the following musical genres/styles: choral, classical, folk, jazz, popular. At some schools, students can explore multiple styles while developing strong technical and artistic foundations within their primary genre.
Visit the Blue Ridge website for more specific information on the music genres/styles it supports.
Primary Instruments
Students at Blue Ridge can pursue study across a range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice. Students study privately with faculty on their primary instrument while participating in ensembles and collaborative performances.
Visit the Blue Ridge website for more specific information about their support for studies on specific instruments.
Music Studies Offered at Blue Ridge
Students at Blue Ridge can pursue degrees focused on engineering/technology, jazz, performance, popular music, songwriting. Music degree programs typically combine private instruction, ensemble participation, music theory coursework, and performance opportunities designed to prepare students for careers in music.
Visit the Blue Ridge website for more specific information on the programs of study it offers.
Acceptance
Musical acceptance at Blue Ridge is selective. Academically, it is selective, with accepted students having an average GPA of 3.4. (Unlike academic programs, music admissions typically emphasize performance and artistic potential.) The application deadline for Blue Ridge is Dec 1 (priority) | Feb 1 (regular) of each year.
Visit the Blue Ridge website to confirm acceptance information and deadlines.
Auditions
An audition at Blue Ridge, and the school's auditions are considered to be selective. The audition window is Jan–Mar of each year. A pre-screening video or portfolio is not required.
Visit the Blue Ridge website for more specific information on auditions.
Location and Music Scene
Blue Ridge is nestled in Asheville, a mountain city with a nationally celebrated music culture, where indie folk, bluegrass, experimental, and jazz scenes thrive alongside a booming arts economy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Ridge hard to get into?
Admission to Blue Ridge is considered selective for music and selective academically. At most schools, the audition carries significant weight. Admitted students need to demonstrate performance ability and artistic potential in addition to meeting academic requirements.
Do I need a prescreening video to audition at Blue Ridge?
A prescreening video or portfolio submission at Blue Ridge.
Prescreening requirements vary significantly from school to school, and sometimes by instrument or area of study, so it's worth checking directly with the admissions office to confirm what's expected for your specific application.
What instruments can I study at Blue Ridge?
supports study across a wide range of instruments, including bassoon, cello, clarinet, double bass, flute, guitar, horn, oboe, percussion, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet, tuba, viola, violin, voice. Students typically study privately with a faculty member on their primary instrument while also participating in ensembles and collaborative performance opportunities.
Instrument availability and faculty depth can vary. If you play something less common, it's worth reaching out to the department directly to confirm faculty availability before you apply.
What GPA do I need for Blue Ridge?
Admitted students at Blue Ridge have an average GPA of 3.4. Keep in mind that this is an average. Some admitted students come in above it, some below, depending on the strength of the overall application and, especially, the audition.
Music programs tend to weigh audition performance heavily, which means a particularly strong musical candidate may be admitted even if their GPA is below the typical range. The reverse is also true. Academic strength alone won't compensate for a weak audition.
What is the application deadline for Blue Ridge?
The application deadline for Blue Ridge is Dec 1 (priority) | Feb 1 (regular), with live auditions typically held Jan–Mar. These dates can shift year to year, so it's important to verify directly with the admissions office well in advance.
Music school deadlines often arrive earlier than general college application deadlines, and audition slots can fill up quickly, especially at competitive programs. Getting your application in early is rarely a bad idea.
Information on this page is updated periodically. Always confirm details directly with the school's admissions office.
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