Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey—Camden

Performing Arts at Rutgers–Camden

The arts programs at Rutgers–Camden offer a flexible range of opportunities for students to explore an education in visual arts, art history/museum studies, and performing arts in music and theater. These programs teach technical, academic, creative, and communication skills as part of our curriculum in Animation, Graphic Design, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Art History, Music, Theater, and Filmmaking majors and concentrations. 

Your life in music starts at Rutgers—Camden
Internationally active faculty and small class sizes provide students of music at Rutgers University–Camden with the dynamic environment to explore and develop their musical talent. Students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music choose one of the following concentrations: Composition and Music Technology, Theories and History, Performance, or Music Education, within a dynamic liberal arts curriculum that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Student-proposed majors in other areas of music, such as Studio Recording and Engineering, Music for Film and Video Games can be created in consultation with faculty.

As part of a strong, interdisciplinary Department of Fine Arts, our students also benefit from exposure to visual art, theater, and new digital media perspectives. Our proximity to Philadelphia and New York makes internships and other opportunities readily available, and allows our students to take advantage of many splendid cultural and artistic activities. Whether you are planning to teach, pursue graduate studies, work in a music production industry, embark on a performance career, or simply enjoy expressing yourself through music, the Rutgers–Camden music program is the ideal place to start.

Facilities
The Fine Arts Building housed on the Rutgers–Camden campus boasts the 650-seat Gordon Theater concert hall, the 100-seat Black Box Theater, the chamber-sized Mallery Room, a state-of-the-art digital lab and recording studio, and a wide range of practice rooms. Rutgers University–Camden music students find themselves in the middle of a stimulating and creative environment, since the Fine Arts Complex also houses the Theater, Art, and Art History programs and is conveniently located near the vibrant Philadelphia arts and culture scene. Also housed in our building is the newly founded Digital Studies Center, which offers a variety of learning collaborations between digital technologies, the arts and other disciplines.

Performance
Students can join a wide variety of performing ensembles, which sharpen their musicianship and provide opportunities to enjoy the works studied in the history and theory courses. Through the Madrigal Ensemble, Rutgers University Singers, Jazz Ensemble, Orchestra Ensemble, Rock Group, Beatles Group, Dixie Ensemble, String Orchestra and other student-created groups, instrumentalists and vocalists of all disciplines are afforded opportunities to showcase their talents and hone their performance skills while being exposed to a broad selection of classical and contemporary works.

Theatre and filmmaking being our stories to life. Be a storyteller.
Theater and film are creative and collaborative arts in which true excellence is achieved through hands-on experience. Our students can explore their craft by choosing concentrations in Acting, Musical Theater, Design and Technology, or Filmmaking, all within a dynamic liberal arts curriculum that provides them with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. Student-proposed majors in other areas of theater such as directing or playwriting can be created in consultation with faculty.

As part of a strong, interdisciplinary Department of Visual, Media, and Performing Arts, our students also benefit from exposure to visual art, music, and new digital media perspectives. Our proximity to the vibrant Philadelphia and New York theater scenes makes internships highly accessible. 

Facilities
Students are afforded the opportunity to learn and work in Rutgers University–Camden’s two exceptional performance venues. The Walter K. Gordon Theater, a state-of-the-art 650 seat proscenium house, is renowned for its near-perfect acoustical properties and gives our students the experience of performing in a large-scale theater or concert hall. The Black Box Studio provides students with a more intimate side of the performing spectrum with multiple configurations.

Performance
Each year, the Rutgers University–Camden Theater Program presents a full season of plays that creates learning opportunities in every area of production from design work and stage management to acting and directing. Groundbreaking, fully supported productions range from Shakespearian tragedies to modern classics and musicals. Student-created work is highly encouraged and showcased annually in the Student-Directed One Act Play Festival.