UC Santa Cruz Music Program: What do you guys think?

I'm looking into the music program at UC Santa Cruz. Has anyone had any experiences with it? Is it a strong program and what kind of opportunities can I expect in terms of performances and extracurriculars?

UC Santa Cruz has a solid music program that offers a range of opportunities for students. The program focuses on both Western classical music and world music, which allows for a diverse learning experience. The curriculum is designed to cultivate your musical skills and knowledge through courses in theory, history, composition, and performance.

In terms of performance opportunities, UCSC provides numerous options for students. There are several music ensembles you can participate in such as the UCSC Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir, among others. Each ensemble holds auditions at the beginning of the academic year, so you'll need to prepare accordingly.

Outside of formal ensembles, there will also be opportunities for you to perform in student recitals and participate in master classes with visiting musicians. These experiences are valuable for honing your skills and building your musical network.

Extracurricular-wise, UCSC has various clubs that cater to different genres and aspects of music, which can help further fuel your passion, whether that's sharing music with others or focusing on a particular kind of music, like electronic music.

Overall, UC Santa Cruz's music program is well-respected and offers a variety of opportunities for its students. If you end up applying and are looking for tips on how to maximize your chances of acceptance, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle UC Santa Cruz's application essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-university-of-california-essays. The essays are a great place to show your broader fit for the school, academically and personally as well as musically. Best of luck with your college search and future musical endeavors!