James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia

Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with more than 50 first languages spoken in its public schools. James Madison University (JMU) is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. The study body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. The university is committeed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong study/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research. 

College of Visual and Performing Arts

With over 100 full-time faculty and 1,200 full-time majors, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) brings together Schools of Art, Design, and Art History (SADAH); Music (SOM); and Theatre and Dance (STAD). CVPA also houses the Office of Creative Propulsion, which supports students and faculty in ideating, launching, and refining arts-based efforts that reimagine and disrupt traditional practices, stretch and break artistic boundaries, and promote more equitable and inclusive opportunities for meaningful arts/design engagement. CVPA believes that equity, access, and inclusion are moral imperatives and artistic obligations. Diversity—in the stories we represent, students we serve, and audience we engage—is vital for the health and relevance of contemporary arts and design practice. CVPA, therefore, welcomes diversity of perspective, ethnicity, race, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ability. Across its units, CVPA is committed to empowering students to act boldly, justly, and inclusively to create their own unique path. 

School of Music

The JMU School of Music is a highly engaged and active program with more than 380 undergraduate majors and 70 graduate students. The School of Music offers the following degrees and concentrations: Doctor of Musical Arts (conducting and performance), Master of Music (composition, conducting, music education, and performance), Bachelor of Music (composition, jazz studies, music education, music industry, music theatre, and performance), and Bachelor of Arts in Music (music industry and music studies). The school has 45 full-time faculty, 25 part-time faculty, and 10 professional staff and supportive positions, and produces more than 300 performances and presentations annually. Additionally, the School of Music offers the students the benefits of an all-Steinway school and outstanding concert halls in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts.