Department of Music at Princeton University

Department of Music at Princeton University Keep up to date with all of the happenings relating to the Princeton University Department of Music.

Faculty, students, alumni, and friends gathered this spring to celebrate composer and longtime Princeton Professor Steve...
05/28/2026

Faculty, students, alumni, and friends gathered this spring to celebrate composer and longtime Princeton Professor Steve Mackey during a special performance of “The Ancestors” and a reception honoring his retirement after 41 years at Princeton University’s Department of Music.

A GRAMMY Award-winning composer, mentor, guitarist, and beloved teacher, Mackey transformed Princeton’s composition program through his fearless creativity, genre-defying work, and deep commitment to students and artistic collaboration. Over four decades, he helped shape generations of composers while building a vibrant and adventurous musical community on campus and beyond.

This week, Mackey also returned to the stage as the Music Department’s Class Day speaker — and we were honored to share a glimpse of his remarks in the video above.

Thank you, Steve, for 41 incredible years of artistry, mentorship, and inspiration. 🧡🖤

Hoods up, dissertations defended, and diplomas secured 🎓🧡🖤Congratulations to all of our phenomenal Ph.D. graduates from ...
05/27/2026

Hoods up, dissertations defended, and diplomas secured 🎓🧡🖤

Congratulations to all of our phenomenal Ph.D. graduates from Music: Gulli Bjornsson, Joyce Chen, Eddie Hong, Max Vinetz, Dai Wei, and Chen Yihan! Your scholarship, creativity, performances, and research have shaped our community in unforgettable ways.

And of course, a special honorary shoutout to Mochi 🐾. Easily the best-dressed guest at graduation.

📸 #1 from left to right: Joyce Chen, Mochi, Chen Yihan, Eddie Hong

Cue the pomp, circumstance, and standing ovation for the Great Class of ’26. 🐅🎓Congrats to our Music majors and minors —...
05/26/2026

Cue the pomp, circumstance, and standing ovation for the Great Class of ’26. 🐅🎓

Congrats to our Music majors and minors — thanks for making every note count. 🧡🖤

As graduation approaches for the Class of 2026, three senior music majors in the Music Department are reflecting on the ...
05/22/2026

As graduation approaches for the Class of 2026, three senior music majors in the Music Department are reflecting on the thesis projects that defined their final year at Princeton University. From original composition and wind ensemble writing to contemporary music analysis, Bedros Maldjian, Jacob Jackson, and Ian Peiris each pursued projects shaped by distinct musical interests and research approaches. 🎶📚

Learn more about their thesis work: https://tinyurl.com/2pjm5e7x

This semester, our Faculty Research Lunches created space for faculty to share the ideas, stories, and creative processe...
05/21/2026

This semester, our Faculty Research Lunches created space for faculty to share the ideas, stories, and creative processes shaping their current work: from musical composition works and archival research to questions of neurodivergence.

Barbara White, Professor of Music: Shared excerpts from recent musical works that weave together environmental sound, mythology, historical research, and performance practice. Drawing on field recordings from Newfoundland, 19th century polar expeditions, Celtic poetic traditions, and the world of the shakuhachi, her pieces Where Stone Flows and Lorica illuminate the creative possibilities of interdisciplinary listening.

Gavin Steingo, Director of Musicology (Graduate Studies); Professor of Music: Presented new research from an interdisciplinary book project on music and Tourette syndrome. Drawing on ethnomusicology, disability studies, psychology, philosophy, and music theory, he traced how musical performance intersects with neurodivergence and considered the ethical and cultural questions that emerge from this work.

Steven Mackey, William Shubael Conant Professor of Music: Reflected on memory, family, and artistic evolution through discussions of "The Ancestors" and "Memoir." Revisiting the electric guitar and string quartet sound world that shaped his early career, "The Ancestors" reimagines musical ideas through improvisation and atmospheric textures. "Memoir," inspired by his mother Elaine Mackey’s unpublished writings, blends narration, live music, leitmotifs, archival visuals, and everyday sounds to trace identity and remembrance across generations.

From Majoring in Politics at Princeton to pursuing a law degree at Yale Law School, alumna Fumika Mizuno ’21 reflects on...
05/15/2026

From Majoring in Politics at Princeton to pursuing a law degree at Yale Law School, alumna Fumika Mizuno ’21 reflects on how her Princeton experience shaped both her academic path and her relationship to music. 🎻⚖️

“The reason why I came to Princeton was so I could play music at a high level while also pursuing my academic studies. I didn’t end up being a music major, but I really wanted to take advantage of all the performance and ensemble opportunities.”

A winner of the Princeton University Orchestra Concerto Competition, Fumika also recalls the impact of performance and ensemble life on campus. “Every single thing that I did through the Music Department, I remember thinking to myself, I need to treasure this.”

Read the full story here: https://tinyurl.com/9mprxj5m

Continue the celebration of Steve Mackey’s 41 extraordinary years at University with a special performance of The Ance...
05/13/2026

Continue the celebration of Steve Mackey’s 41 extraordinary years at University with a special performance of The Ancestors featuring the acclaimed Ae**us Quartet. 🎸🎻

Premiered at Wigmore Hall in London, The Ancestors brings together electric guitar and string quartet in a powerful exploration of memory, family, and musical lineage. The program also includes Mackey’s Physical Property and One Red Rose. ✨

📍 Taplin Auditorium, Fine Hall
�📅 Saturday, May 16 at 3 PM

Limited tickets remain available via RSVP. Learn more at the link in bio. 🎟️

📸: David Kelly Crow

What if the moments your mind wanders while listening to music are the most important ones?In Transported: The Everyday ...
05/04/2026

What if the moments your mind wanders while listening to music are the most important ones?

In Transported: The Everyday Magic of Musical Daydreams (out May 19), Acting Chair and Professor of Music Elizabeth Margulis draws on years of groundbreaking research to show that musical daydreams offer a powerful window into memory, identity, and human connection.

"Mind-wandering serves an important function: it lets us play with the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what the world is — stories that ultimately generate meaning in our lives."

Read the full Q&A here: https://tinyurl.com/jx65n365

Join Princeton University Sinfonia for their annual spring concert, conducted by Ruth Ochs🧡🖤The program features works b...
04/30/2026

Join Princeton University Sinfonia for their annual spring concert, conducted by Ruth Ochs🧡🖤

The program features works by Respighi, Bartók, Spohr, and Artie Shaw, alongside world premieres by Princeton student composers Romit Kundagrami ’26 and Jacob Jackson ’26.

Friday, May 1 at 7:30 PM�
Richardson Auditorium

🎟Tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/3bj44x5b

04/27/2026

Why Major in Music? For this year’s sophomore class, the answer spans everything from lifelong passion and interdisciplinary exploration to moments of resilience, discovery, and inspiration 🎶. Learn more at link in bio (News & Stories)

Address

Woolworth Music Building
Princeton, NJ
08544

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16092584241

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Department of Music at Princeton University posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share