Explore UAB

Colleges & Schools

Department of Music College of Arts and Sciences

Department of Music

In a relatively short time, the UAB Department of Music has distinguished itself as one of the finest centers for educating young musicians in the southeast. Faculty and students perform in the acclaimed Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center (with its four performing venues) and around the globe. We recently became the first program in the state of Alabama to be designated an All-Steinway School, making the department one of only 73 schools worldwide so named by piano maker Steinway & Sons. The University of Alabama at Birmingham is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Musicopens in a new window.

About UsUndergraduate ProgramGraduate ProgramAuditions
This is a photo of the UAB Brass Quintet.The University of Alabama at Birmingham Faculty Brass Quintet consists of Dr. James Zingara and Dr. Steve Roberts, trumpets, Dr. Martin Cochran, euphonium, Jeff Koonce, trombone, and Scott Robertson, tuba. This group is unique not only because it is the only year-round faculty brass quintet in the State of Alabama, but also that it carries a euphonium, rather than a French horn, as its alto voice. This gives the group a somewhat darker sound and provides more flexibility in tonal color.

The UAB Brass Quintet (BQ) was established in 2011 and supports the UAB Department of Music through participation in the annual Brass Symposium, on campus recitals, numerous regional school performances and clinics, and the Fall Commencement Exercises. The BQ also performs a series of monthly “First Thursday” noontime pops concerts in the University Hospital atrium sponsored by UAB Hospital and the UAB Hospital Auxiliary. In addition, the group has premiered seven new works for brass quintet and has taken two European tours in which they performed in Germany, Latvia, and the Czech Republic.

A UAB Brass Quintet recital.In recent years, the ensemble has premiered new works by William Price, Holland Hopson, Mark Lackey, Monroe Golden, Bryan Page, Ron Wray, and Wesley Johnson.

The UAB Faculty Brass Quintet is dedicated to educational outreach through the performance of free school shows for elementary and secondary music programs throughout the state and region. For booking information, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..