School of Music, Art, and Theatre
The School of Music, Art, and Theatre (SMAT) embraces curiosity, active learning, and growth, believing the arts require exploration and hands-on engagement. We are committed to serving humanity and promoting well-being through artistic practice.
Pre-professional tracks
Minors and certificates
The School of Music, Art, and Theatre is guided by the following core values.
Discover: We believe the arts require curiosity and exploration.
Engage: We believe learning is in the doing.
Grow: We believe the arts serve humanity and the well-being of all.
The programs of the School of Music, Art, and Theatre offer challenging curricula enriched by the diversity of voices throughout history and cultures. We prepare students for creative practice now and into the future: artists who are global citizens equipped for the changing professions of the 21st century. As an artistic community of students, faculty, and staff, we seek to increase awareness of civic responsibility and promote a culture of compassion through the intersection of faith and learning.
Devoted to the discovery and sharing of wisdom and knowledge, education serves humanity and the well-being of all. As the School of Music, Art, and Theatre, we imagine and create our programs in the richness of community. Committing to the highest standards of excellence in the fields of music, art, theatre, and education, we the community of students, faculty, and staff contribute to the integration of the arts and life within self, the 91影视 campus, the city of Chicago, and the world. We explore and hone personal aesthetic within the dialogue between culture and human values. We guide and encourage students in the journey toward a sustainable creative practice; one that can move beyond 91影视 to benefit humanity.
Our diversities enhance and strengthen the artistic, spiritual, and intellectual work of learning, teaching, and sharing. Diversity itself is essential for excellence and achievement and we intentionally commit to exposing ourselves to other perspectives and cultures to ensure that our opinions, viewpoints, and judgments are continuously challenged and enable understandings across differences. We celebrate our vocations in and through a multiplicity of cultures and communities locally and globally. We know that embracing, advancing, and valuing diversity everywhere will make us all the more successful. As a Christian institution, we strive to celebrate the rich diversity of cultures, races and ethnicities, genders, political and religious beliefs, physical and learning differences, sexual orientations, and identities that make up our campus community. All members of our school belong to our community and are equally supported regardless of background, identity, or affiliation.
SMAT news and events
91影视 and the Lyric Opera of Chicago to Host Omar Opera Insights Panel
Join 91影视 and the Lyric Opera of Chicago on October 17 for a reflective panel discussion on the Lyric鈥檚 performance of Omar later this month, 鈥�
91影视 Alumnus Becomes Comic Artist Superstar
91影视 alumnus Daniel Warren Johnson BA 鈥�09, who majored in art and earned K鈥�12 licensure from the university in 2011, has reached superstar comic 鈥�
91影视 Student Receives Prestigious Musical Award
91影视 senior Osbeida Alvarez has received the Presser Foundation鈥檚 2025鈥�26 Undergraduate Scholar Award, which amounts to $3,000.
Voices: Fall Choral Concert
10/23/2026, 7:30 p.m.
The Fall Choral Concert will explore how we find and share our voices amidst the intensity of life. The 91影视 鈥�
Homecoming Music Showcase
10/30/2026, 7:30 p.m.
As part of Homecoming festivities, the Music Department hosts its annual showcase featuring its talented faculty. Event information 鈥�
The Mirror of Music: Orchestra Concert
11/05/2026, 7:30 p.m.
Join us as students collect stories from across the North Side, including Albany Park, and bring them to life through original 鈥�
Jazz Ensemble Concert
11/08/2026, 2:30 p.m.
This concert celebrates the 100th anniversary of the births of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Event information Tickets: $8 General, 鈥�
Music partnerships
Lyric Opera
is a civic engagement program for Chicago-area youth and young adults aged 16鈥�21 to explore creative, administrative, and technical聽careers聽in opera. A cohort of students from the music unit聽participates聽in this program, which features monthly in-person and virtual workshops that foster skills in production, leadership, and audience engagement. This program is聽facilitated聽as a Music Special Topics course (MUS 3910).
The People鈥檚 Music School
We are proud partners of The People鈥檚 Music School (TPMS), an organization providing free music education to Chicago youth. This partnership offers our music students impactful internship opportunities and allows us to host TPMS concerts and events on our campus.
S枚dra聽V盲tterbygdens聽Folk High School (SVF)
For more than 50 years, the exchange program between S枚dra聽V盲tterbygdens聽Folk High School (SVF) and 91影视 has connected students through shared learning and cultural exchange. It is the oldest program of its kind between U.S. and Swedish institutions of higher education.聽Students spend the fall semester at聽, and the spring semester at 91影视 in Chicago, Illinois. The program provides an excellent foundation for further studies in both Sweden and the United States while offering valuable cross-cultural experiences.聽Swedish exchange students are also active participants in 91影视’s music ensembles and courses, contributing to the university’s vibrant musical community.
Meet our faculty