Duke University Department of Music

09/02/2026

Last Friday, we kicked off the semester with Pops on the Patio! 🎶

Students gathered at Biddle to connect with faculty, meet one another, and learn more about the people and opportunities that make up Duke Music—all while enjoying a fantastic performance by graduate student Jake Richter.

“Pops on the Patio is really about creating a welcoming space for students to connect—with our faculty, with one another, and with the many opportunities available to them through Music at Duke. We want every student to know there is a place for them here.” — John Supko, Director of Undergraduate Studies

09/01/2026

The Duke Symphony Orchestra is kicking off the year with a concert packed with music you know and love!

Join us this Sunday at 6 p.m. in Baldwin Auditorium for an evening of unforgettable music from the stage and screen, featuring fan favorites from Star Wars, The Lion King, West Side Story, and more.

Bring your friends, find your seat, and start the year with the Duke Symphony Orchestra! 🎻✨

08/26/2026

A new interdisciplinary community is taking shape at Duke. 🎶

The Sound, Music, and Gender Working Group invites graduate students across disciplines to connect around questions of gender, sexuality, sound, and music. Faculty and interested undergraduate students are also welcome to participate.

The group will create space for discussion, research exchange, works-in-progress, and community-building across fields including (ethno)musicology, anthropology, literature, gender and sexuality studies, African and African American studies, and beyond.

You do not need to be in Music to participate. If your research or interests intersect with sound, music, gender, or sexuality, we’d love to have you join the conversation.

Interested? Contact Anton Blackburn at [email protected] or Annie Koppes at [email protected] to learn more or RSVP.

08/24/2026

What better way to start the semester than with a little Duke Music swag? 💙🎶

This morning, we said “Welcome to Biddle!” to the first 50 students through our doors with goodie bags to help kick off the new academic year!

And because being first has its perks… our very first student to arrive walked away with a Duke ball cap AND a Duke notebook! 🧢📘

We loved seeing Biddle buzzing with students again this morning. Whether you’re returning for another year or stepping into our building for the very first time, welcome to Duke Music — we’re so glad you’re here!

Here’s to a year of creating, exploring, and connecting. 🎵

08/22/2026

🎶 Duke Music students and alumni — take us back to the beginning!

With the first week of classes coming up, Biddle is already filling up again with new faces, new music, and the start of a whole lot of memories.

We want to hear from you: What’s your favorite memory from your early days at Duke?

Maybe it was your first rehearsal, meeting the people who became your closest friends, getting completely lost on campus, a favorite first-year tradition, or a tiny moment you still remember years later.

Current students and alumni, drop your memory in the comments. 💙

And to our newest Blue Devils: welcome to Duke. Your story is just getting started.

08/13/2026

What can you do with an arts education? Quite a lot, actually.

As AI continues to reshape the workplace, many of the skills students develop through the arts are becoming even more valuable.

A recent piece from The Chronicle of Higher Education takes a closer look at what the future may hold for arts graduates and the many directions an arts education may lead.

At Duke Music, we see that every day. Our students are preparing for careers and opportunities that may take them far beyond the concert hall or classroom, while learning how to create, explore, and connect along the way.

With AI driving algorithmic sameness, these students often have skills and creative perspectives that set them apart.

06/19/2026

At Duke Music, we celebrate the voices, stories, and contributions that enrich our community. On Juneteenth, we honor freedom and resilience while reflecting on the enduring importance of creating, exploring, and connecting through music and shared humanity. ✊🏾✊🏿✊🏻

06/02/2026

Celebrating Pride, community, and every voice that makes music possible. 🌈

Happy Pride from Duke Music.

05/13/2026

💙Congratulations, Duke Music!🤍

05/04/2026

May the Fourth Be With You, but make it orchestral ✨🎻

Yesterday, the Durham Medical Orchestra brought the galaxy to the stage—led by Duke Music Chair (and DUWS/DMO conductor) embracing the dark side in the best possible way. A little drama, a lot of talent, and just enough lightsaber energy to keep things interesting.

The Force was definitely with us. ❤️

OrchestraLife