Music

Our Courses

A Cappella – The A Cappella choir is an audition-based ensemble of singers that specialize in accompanied and unaccompanied vocal repertoire spanning all periods of music history. This group meets during the school day to practice, preparing the group to perform at school concerts, on trips, and throughout the greater Cincinnati community.

Chamber Ensemble – This advanced instrumental group is designed to give students playing strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion an opportunity to perform challenging music. Meeting before school, they focus on small ensemble skills, advanced technique, and the unique application of music theory through performance. School concerts allow the Ursuline community to appreciate the talents of this gifted group.

Chorus – Chorus students collaborate to perform fun, challenging songs that span a wide historical time frame. The group is comprised of students of all grade levels, and all members collaborate to select the repertoire of music for the given year. This allows students to develop their singing, vocal technique, pitch recognition, and ensemble skills.

Guitar – Our beginning guitar coursework gives students the opportunity to pick up a new instrument and learn basic music theory in an approachable stress-free environment. Classes are focused on reading music, understanding scales, chords, and rhythms. Music played in this course spans throughout all of music history and takes on a variety of genres.

Musical Theatre Ensemble - This class blends curriculum from vocal music and musical theatre. The ensemble primarily focuses on repertoire from musical theatre. Students help choose music, create choreography, and block a scene for each song performed.

Orchestra – UA Orchestra is designed to allow musicians to hone their craft on strings, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. One section meets before school and the other during school, practicing together to improve individual skills while also gaining exposure to the art of ensemble play and listening. Orchestra students their gifts with the community through a variety of school concerts and performance trips, most recently traveling to perform in New York City! 

Piano – Piano classes are offered for beginner and intermediate levels. Students can learn the basics of finger placement and hand formation, music theory, and piano performance skills.

Performances

Our music students showcase their skills on the UA stage in two major concerts per year. These performances highlight musical techniques and repertoires the students have learned in class.

• The Winter Concert presents a variety of Christmas and seasonal music. 
• The spring Arts in Concert performance is a can't-miss collaboration with the Fine Arts Department.

Students also travel outside the region on a semi-regular basis to perform in other venues. The most recent trips were to New York (2025), St. Louis (2023), and Orlando (2019).