School of Music
To build a meaningful career, you need the right programs. You need passionate mentors focused on your future. You need a community that embraces and inspires you.
Through our diverse program offerings and rich community-based programs you will have the freedom and opportunity to explore your passions. In our close-knit and supportive community, you will build life-long friendships as you develop the skills and confidence to express yourself - as a musician, as a scholar, and as a global citizen. Our world-class faculty, dedicated staff, and outstanding facilities are committed to helping you create the future you imagine.
News
Photo by Alick Tsui.
Congratulations to our faculty and alumni who received well-deserved recognition from their peers at the MusicNL Awards in October 2026!
The School of Music’s Rob Power took home the award for Classical Artist of the Year and our own Dylan Maddix was awarded Music Educator of the Year.
We are proud to announce that the 23rd edition of our annual Newfound Music Festival was named Event of the Year! Thank you to the faculty, staff, alumni, and students who work hard to make this festival happen every year. And to our 2026 special guests, Quasar quatuor de saxophones, for sharing their talents with us. Stay tuned for details on the next edition of the festival happening January 27-29, 2027!
Congratulations to our alumni who also took home awards!
- Alumna Sarah Newell, part of With Violet, took home Group of the Year and Pop Artist of the Year.
- Alumna Meghan Herder won Industry Professional of the Year.
- Alumnus Bill Brennan, along with Andy McNeill, won Instrumental Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.
- Alumnus Eric Taylor Escudero, part of Ana & Eric, won International Touring Artist of the Year.
- Alumnus Duane Andrews won Jazz Artist of the Year.
- Alumna Heather Barrett won Media Person of the Year.
- Alumnus Adam Foran won the Sound on Screen Award.
- Alumnus Ben Diamond won Solo Artist of the Year.
Congratulations to all!
Congratulations to alumnus Luke Blackmore (BMus (Hons) ’21) on being named one of CBC Music’s Top 30 Classical Musicians under 30 for 2026! This is the sixth year in a row that one of our alumni have made the list.
"The recipient of two SOCAN Young Composer Awards, Luke Blackmore has caught the attention of new music lovers from coast to coast. He combines acoustic instruments with electronic hardware, like transducers and speakers, to create otherworldly sounds... Blackmore will head to Vancouver later this summer to workshop a new piece with the Juno-nominated sextet Standing Wave, and then in February he’ll attend the Impuls Festival in Graz, Austria."
Congratulations, Luke!
Dr. Luis Achondo, assistant professor of ethnomusicology and musicology, was recently interviewed by CBC News about his research into the relationship between sound and sports.
During his interview, Dr. Achondo described sound as a unifier at the World Cup as fans come together and connect through sport and culture.
"In many ways, it's a beautiful story of the ways in which we are different," he said. "And we sound different, and that's ok. And we can co-exist, especially in this context."
Read more in the CBC article here.
Listen to his interview on the CBC St. John's Morning Show.
Read about Dr. Achondo's research in the MUN Gazette.