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Department of Music

Durham University's Music Department has internationally recognised research expertise in a wide variety of topics including musicology, theory and analysis, ethnomusicology, music psychology, performance, composition, and music technology.
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Welcome to Music at Durham

We have been consistently rated as one of the top UK music departments in The Complete University Guide and Guardian University League Table.

Find out more about us
6th in the UK for Research Output Quality in Music, Research Excellence Framework 2021
Athena Swan
Athena Swan Bronze Award since 2022
3rd
3rd The Complete University Guide 2025
2nd in the Times / Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025
QS World University Rankings 2024

World-leading status affirmed in QS World University Rankings 2025

Durham is now ranked 89th in the world top 100 universities. Our top performance came in the Sustainability category, where we ranked 19th in the world. We also have a world-class reputation with employers, being ranked 65th.

Learn more about the QS World University Rankings

Study with us

  

Undergraduate Study

Our expertise in this area impacts the lives of our students and many others, beyond Durham.
TAPPUCINO by DIM and Buttered Toast live performance

Postgraduate Study

The Music Department’s vibrant postgraduate research environment attracts high-calibre applicants from all over the world.
A person onstage reading a book during a lunchtime concert

 

 

Work with us

The Department of Music is one of the very best UK Music Departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students.

Ranked #3 in REF2014, the Department of Music has internationally renowned research strengths in interdisciplinary research in musicology, theory and analysis, ethnomusicology, music psychology, performance, composition, and music technology.
See our recruitment pages for more opportunities
Music Students Work in the Electroacoustic Studio

 

 

What's new?

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Durham PhD Student Wins Prize For Outstanding Paper

Ardi Echevarría, a third-year PhD student in the Department of Music, has been awarded the TAGS Prize for the best student presentation at this year’s Theory and Analysis Graduate Students Conference, hosted by the Society for Music Analysis at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Research news
A head shot of a man in glasses

Congratulations to Dr Angus Howie on Passing His Viva

We are delighted to congratulate Dr Angus Howie on the successful defence of his doctoral thesis, Symphonic Legacies: Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler in Vienna, 1911–1945. Angus passed his viva with flying colours earlier this spring.
Research news
Angus celebrating with internal examiner Dr Amanda Hsieh (left), and PhD supervisors Professor Julian Horton and Dr Katherine Hambridge (right)

Dr Amanda Hsieh Awarded Leverhulme Research Fellowship

Dr Amanda Hsieh, Assistant Professor in Musicology, has been awarded a 12-month Leverhulme Research Fellowship.
Research news
Amanda Hsieh

Applications are invited from UK and international applicants for PhD studentships through AHRC-funded Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership

The Department of Music at Durham invites applications from UK and international applicants for PhD studentships through the AHRC-funded Northern Bridge Doctoral Training Partnership. Internal Deadline: Friday 6 December 2024 (5 pm)
Durham news
Durham University Logo

Durham Musicologists bring Japanese Songs and Parisian Vaudeville to Being Human Festival

Durham Music Department has two events in this year’s Being Human Festival (7–16 November 2024).
Durham news
Artwork by Rachael Sligo

Alexandros Spyrou’s ‘intra-’ performed at mise-en festival in New York

Dr. Alexandros Spyrou has recently returned from New York City, where his composition ‘intra-’ was featured at the 2024 mise-en festival.
Durham news
Looking sassy

Alexandros Spyrou directs Delian Academy for New Music 2024

Alexandros Spyrou, founder of the Delian Academy for New Music, has this year been directing the academy once again to great success!
Durham news
Group Photo
More departmental news

Durham’s Dr Katherine Hambridge speaks on BBC’s Woman’s Hour about girls in cathedral choirs

On Good Friday Dr Hambridge outlined for Radio 4 listeners the history of the exclusion of women and girls from church music as part of a segment on the admission of girls to St Paul’s Cathedral Choir

Dr Katherine Hambridge

Another Timbre release recording of Dr James Weeks's media vita

Dr James Weeks’ chamber work media vita (2024) has been released on the Another Timbre label, performed by leading British experimental music ensemble Apartment House.
The front cover of a CD, with a detail from a painting

International Women’s Day 2025 in the Music Department

Durham University Department of Music marks International Women’s Day 2025 with a special concert. We present the Music Department Showcase: Pop, Rock & Jazz Special on Friday 7 March 2025 at 6:45pm.
woman singing

  • Durham PhD Student Wins Prize For Outstanding Paper

    Ardi Echevarría, a third-year PhD student in the Department of Music, has been awarded the TAGS Prize for the best student presentation at this year’s Theory and Analysis Graduate Students Conference, hosted by the Society for Music Analysis at Royal Holloway, University of London.
    Research news
    A head shot of a man in glasses

  • Congratulations to Dr Angus Howie on Passing His Viva

    We are delighted to congratulate Dr Angus Howie on the successful defence of his doctoral thesis, Symphonic Legacies: Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler in Vienna, 1911–1945. Angus passed his viva with flying colours earlier this spring.
    Research news
    Angus celebrating with internal examiner Dr Amanda Hsieh (left), and PhD supervisors Professor Julian Horton and Dr Katherine Hambridge (right)

  • Dr Amanda Hsieh Awarded Leverhulme Research Fellowship

    Dr Amanda Hsieh, Assistant Professor in Musicology, has been awarded a 12-month Leverhulme Research Fellowship.
    Research news
    Amanda Hsieh

Durham PhD Student Wins Prize For Outstanding Paper

Ardi Echevarría, a third-year PhD student in the Department of Music, has been awarded the TAGS Prize for the best student presentation at this year’s Theory and Analysis Graduate Students Conference, hosted by the Society for Music Analysis at Royal Holloway, University of London.

A head shot of a man in glasses

Congratulations to Dr Angus Howie on Passing His Viva

We are delighted to congratulate Dr Angus Howie on the successful defence of his doctoral thesis, Symphonic Legacies: Brahms, Bruckner, and Mahler in Vienna, 1911–1945. Angus passed his viva with flying colours earlier this spring.
Angus celebrating with internal examiner Dr Amanda Hsieh (left), and PhD supervisors Professor Julian Horton and Dr Katherine Hambridge (right)

Dr Amanda Hsieh Awarded Leverhulme Research Fellowship

Dr Amanda Hsieh, Assistant Professor in Musicology, has been awarded a 12-month Leverhulme Research Fellowship.
Amanda Hsieh

Upcoming events

Indian Spring Colours: Debasmita Bhattacharya (sarod) & Gurdain Rayatt (tabla)

Saturday 10 May 2025 - Saturday 10 May 2025
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Durham University, Department of Music, Palace Green DH1 3RL
A female musician

Indian Spring Colours: Legacy of Bhimsen Joshi – Parampara

Sunday 11 May 2025 - Sunday 11 May 2025
11:00 AM to 12:30 PM
Durham University, Department of Music, Palace Green DH1 3RL
A male singer

Indian Spring Colours 3: Vignesh Ishwar: A Journey into the Heart of Carnatic Music

Sunday 11 May 2025 - Sunday 11 May 2025
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Durham University, Department of Music, Palace Green DH1 3RL
A male string player
See all events

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We strive to provide innovative, research-led teaching that will assist our students to achieve their full potential as thinking, creative musicians and scholars.

Department of Music
Durham University
Palace Green
Durham
DH1 3RL
UK