Laurier’s reimagined Bachelor of Music marks a new era in post-secondary music education. Our flexible and inclusive curriculum educates classical and contemporary musicians to the highest standards, while supporting opportunities for cross-training.
Whether you’re a composer, conductor, singer-songwriter, performer, producer, educator, or forging your own path, you’ll find the space, support and expert guidance to grow. Learn one-on-one from expert faculty with deep industry ties, and gain hands-on experience that prepares you for a sustainable, creative career.
Book a campus tour, request a trial lesson, or explore how to apply and audition and discover how your music matters at Laurier.
Your future professors work hard to keep your education relevant, well-rounded, and career-focused. Here’s what you can expect:
Here are some of the top ways our students love applying what they learn throughout their degree:
We know your passion for your instrument or voice is a big part of what defines you. Find your instrument below to learn what makes studying it at Laurier unique, as well as audition advice and repertoire requirements.
Complete list of audition requirements.
Don’t study an instrument listed below? Contact musicauditions@wlu.ca for audition information.
In Laurier’s Bachelor of Music program, you can shape your education around what matters most to you. Choose from a wide range of specializations to focus your studies or explore multiple areas to keep your path flexible.
You can:
It’s your music, your future—customize your degree to match your goals.
The Afrodiasporic Music specialization explores the rich and diverse musical traditions of the African diasporas in the Americas, the Caribbean and Europe. This program is designed for music and non-music students interested in the history and performance of music of genres such as jazz, reggae, hip-hop, gospel, and more.
The history courses will provide a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and social influences that have shaped Afrodiasporic musical traditions. Performance classes will equip students with practical skills in performing and creating Afrodiasporic music which will be of value to, and provide an advantage for, students interested in a career in performance, education, music production, community music, music therapy, social work, and music history.
Opportunities for collaborative research with faculty and community organizations will further enhance and enrich study in this concentration as students engage in experiential learning that will demonstrate the real-world relevance and application of Afrodiasporic music.
Courses in this specialization include Music of the Afro-diaspora; Afrodiasporic spoken word practices; History of jazz; Gospel Music History; Music of Afrodiasporic Divas; Jamaican Dancehall Gospel; Reggae in Canada; Pan-African Children's Games; Class drumming; Jazz orchestra; Gospel Choir; Jazz Arranging; and Hand Drums for Group Music Making.
*Non-piano majors with RCM Level 3 piano proficiency or a contemporary equivalent may be eligible for an exemption.
**Intended for piano majors
***Separate sections for vocalists and non-vocalists
These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:
Check out other options to enhance your degree.
Interested in combining music with another field? A double degree is possible in many areas. Contact us at choosemusic@wlu.ca to learn more.
Earn both a Laurier Bachelor of Music degree and a Audio Production & Engineering Diploma from Metalworks Institute—combining traditional music training with cutting-edge, hands-on experience in audio engineering. Complete both programs in as little as four years.
Two Pathways to Choose From (subject to individual student progress and planning):
Want a taste instead of the full pathway?
A la carte Metalworks courses are also available to Laurier music students.
Earn both a Laurier Bachelor of Music and a Performing Arts Diploma from Randolph College for the Performing Arts, where you’ll train in acting, singing, and dance—all in a condensed time frame designed to launch your career faster.
Flexible Pathways (subject to individual student progress and planning):
Prepare for future studies and a rewarding teaching career. The Teaching Option direct entry pathway is a path to the Bachelor of Education program (BEd). Students applying for an honours degree with the Teaching Option will be considered for admission directly into the BEd program.
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum must present the following:
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements. You will find which courses from your country's curriculum are equivalent to the admission requirements listed above. If your country or curriculum is not listed, please reach out to international@wlu.ca.
Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you are successful in your academic courses.
Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.
We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.
If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.
The Academic Transition Pathway (ATP) program is offered through our affiliated institution, Wilfrid Laurier International College, and provides an option for meeting our English-proficiency requirement. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English-proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the ATP program.
Students applying to this program from another post-secondary institution are encouraged to review our transfer-specific requirements. This page will show you the admission requirements for your unique transfer situation and provide more details about transferring to Laurier.
Additional requirements:
Optional: Applicants are welcome to submit a portfolio showcasing original compositions, performances on their major instrument, additional instruments or work across genres.
College graduates applying to Laurier’s Music program may be eligible for admission with one of our articulation agreements with specific college partners.
Learn more about our college pathway opportunities.
Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for transfer students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more.
Auditions and interviews are held in person on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, typically scheduled on the same day for your convenience. Virtual options are available for applicants who live more than 400 km away or have extenuating circumstances.
Auditions are scheduled from January to April, with available dates posted in the Audition Portal.
You may bring your own accompanist, or request one of Laurier’s professional coach-accompanists at no additional cost for in-person auditions.
Once we receive your application, you’ll receive an email with login details for Laurier’s Faculty of Music Audition Portal.
Audition Repertoire
Prepare your audition repertoire according to the specific requirements for your instrument. If you have any questions about repertoire, feel free to contact us at musicauditions@wlu.ca.
Auditions and interviews are held in person on Laurier’s Waterloo campus, typically scheduled on the same day for your convenience. Virtual options are available for applicants who live more than 400 km away or have extenuating circumstances.
Interviews are relaxed, conversational meetings with a Faculty of Music professor, designed to help us learn more about your musical interests and goals. Your interviewer will not be part of your audition panel.
Applicants must provide contact information for one reference who can speak to their musical abilities. This information is submitted through the Audition Portal, and Laurier will contact your reference directly with a set of questions to be completed and submitted electronically.
You’ll receive login details for the Audition Portal once we’ve received your application.
You may choose to upload an optional portfolio to the Audition Portal, featuring past performances, composed works, or original music, using video or audio links. This does not replace your audition.
In some cases, if there are concerns about an audition outcome, a separate faculty panel may review your portfolio materials to help assess your potential and suitability for the program.
You’ll receive login details for Laurier’s Faculty of Music Audition Portal once we receive your application.
It’s not only about the journey; the destination matters. Let us help you get set up for a meaningful career.
Laurier's Bachelor of Music graduates pursue both traditional and non-traditional career paths, leveraging their versatile skills beyond music-specific roles.
Many alumni venture into fields such as medicine, law, and technology, applying their creativity and discipline in unexpected ways.
Note: Additional training and education may be required.
Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.
Getting a university education is an investment in your future.
At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.
In addition to entrance scholarships, you’ll automatically be considered for a Faculty of Music audition scholarship—no separate application required. These awards are based on your audition and recognize students who demonstrate strong musical ability, academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, and/or financial need. Audition scholarship results are communicated at the same time as your audition results.
Top first-year awards include the $5,000 Ken Murray Entrance Scholarship and the $2,000 Martens-Falk Voice Scholarship. Each year, we award approximately $100,000 in scholarships to incoming students.
Scholarship opportunities continue beyond first year, with additional awards available through an application process.
Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.
Questions? Email choosemusic@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all Music faculty and staff.
Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?
