The mission of the McIntire Department of Music builds upon its liberal arts foundation, and its traditions in the study of western music to embrace two of the central issues of our time: the globalization of society and the development of new technologies.

Our innovative program in Critical and Comparative Studies in Music offers a music-centered approach to understanding complex cultural processes; the focus of these studies ranges from western art music, to African and African-American music, to contemporary music, including classical, folk and vernacular styles.

Our commitment to music and new technologies is reflected in the expansion of our composition program to include digital music and in our development of the Virginia Center for Computer Music. At the same time, we foster creative approaches to traditional instrumental composition. Moreover, while continuing to honor the study of music as a liberal art, we have taken bold steps to strengthen the role of performance, an aspect of music that we hold central to our educational, research and outreach missions.