We are thrilled to announce our new Bachelor of Arts Musical Theatre program, available for fall 2025 admission- no audition required! 

For highly-motivated students who wish to explore skills in singing, dancing, and acting!

The Bachelor of Arts degree provides students with a theatrical world view, a foreign language and a minor that is supportive of their major career aspirations. The BA Musical Theatre concentration offers classes in performance, directing, theatre history, stagecraft, music and dance classes, as well as the opportunity to audition for all department productions. 

For more information about this program, please contact Professor Peter Sampieri at psampieri@salemstate.edu. 

Applied (private) music study is available to all SSU students as well as members of the non-SSU community. Musical Theatre majors pay no additional fees for the first four semesters of study and four semesters must be taken in Applied Voice. The four credits of lessons will be used to fulfill requirements in the BA Musical Theatre Concentration. Musical Theatre majors who have met their four-semester credit limit, may continue to take lessons for a fee through the non-credit program.

Performance Requirements: Musical Theatre majors are required to participate in a relevant music ensemble during each semester they are registered for applied music (University Chorus for voice, for instance). Applied Music Instructors may also require students to perform in an Applied Music Open Recital (AMOR) or other similar performance.

Music Jury Requirements: Musical Theatre majors are required to perform a music jury each semester they are registered for Applied Music Lessons. Juries are held during finals week each semester and a portion of the student’s grade for applied music comes from a successful jury performance.

Enrolling in applied music lessons is a commitment. Withdrawing from credited lessons is NOT an option. Before registering for applied lessons, carefully discuss your performance goals with your advisor. If you receive an F or withdraw from a music major applied lesson, it counts as one of your allowed requirements (8, 4, or 3). Repeatedly withdrawing or failing applied lessons can have serious repercussions to your status in your degree program and as a student at Salem State.

Students who fail a semester of Applied Music will not be allowed to enroll in Applied Music lessons the following semester. To have Applied Music privileges reinstated, the student must make an appointment to meet with the MPC, the Music Program Coordinator, and the Applied Music Instructor during the semester of suspension to discuss areas of concern.

All applied lessons are to take place on campus due to safety and liability concerns. Exceptions to this may be granted, but applied instructors need to gain permission from the MPC and the Music and Dance Department Chairperson.

The Applied Faculty at Salem State University are working professionals. They are of the highest caliber in the music industry and are highly sought after as teachers and performers. Applied Faculty members often teach at multiple institutions and teach at SSU on only one day each week. Students are encouraged to be as flexible as possible when discussing a lesson schedule.

A lesson schedule is discussed by the Applied Faculty member and the student and lessons are scheduled at a mutually convenient time. If a lesson time cannot be found, both the Applied faculty member and the student need to contact the MPC as early in the semester as possible.