Welcome to the webpages of the Department of Music and Sound Recording. The department at Surrey offers a unique combination of internationally recognized expertise and opportunities in composition, musicology, performance and sound recording. We have an excellent reputation for teaching and in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 75% of our research output was rated as 'international' quality, of which 21% was world-leading.The world famous 'Tonmeister' degree distinguishes the department through its teaching and research in sound recording. Recording facilities and experiences greatly enrich the experience of all our music students. In musicology teaching and research we focus on repertory from the nineteenth-century to the present day, with specialists in late romanticism, East European music, Mahler, Film Music, Jazz, Progressive Rock, African-American Music, World Music, and post-modernism. Performance is central to the department's activity, and is characterized by stylistic diversity and vocal and instrumental teaching of the highest quality. In composition work is encouraged in a wide range of idioms and creative practices, allowing students to develop their own 'voice' and broaden their technique and practical experience. We warmly welcome applications from students looking for undergraduate study or postgraduate research in these areas.

Dr Steve Downes

Head of Music and Sound Recording