User:Larsenault/University of Southern Maine School of Music

University of Southern Maine School of Music, known locally as the USM School of Music, the is located in the town of Gorham near the coastal and mountain regions of Maine, in the heart of Maine's population center. As the only school of music in a public university in New England, the school links aspects of a comprehensive school with a personalized and opportunity-based approach to educating musicians. Students benefit from close proximity to the greater Portland, Maine arts scene.

Accreditation
The USM School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, and a unit of USM's College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences.

Faculty and Programs
With a faculty of performers, teachers, and scholars, the USM School of Music offers undergraduate degrees in performance, music education, jazz, piano pedagogy, and music/liberal arts. The school also sponsors programs for pre-college musicians and delivers professional training at the master's level in composition, conducting, music education, jazz studies, and performance.

Facilities
The school is housed in Corthell Hall, built in 1878 and named after William Corthell, president of Gorham Normal School from 1878-1905. More than 100 concerts and events are presented by the School of Music each academic year; open to the public, either free or with modest ticket prices. Most concerts and events are held in the 182 seat Corthell Concert Hall. Several off-site performances are held each season in area venues that include Merrill Auditorium, Williston-Immanuel United Church, Woodfords Congregational Church, McCormack Performing Arts Center, and Gorham Middle School Auditorium. More than 100 concerts and events are presented each academic year that are open to the public, and either free or with modest ticket prices.

Mission Statement
The primary mission of the School of Music of the University of Southern Maine is to prepare musicians for careers in teaching, performing and related fields. In addition, the school provides support for music education throughout the State of Maine and New England; it actively participates in a mutually supportive relationship with the professional arts community; and it guides present and future audiences toward greater understanding of and appreciation for many different styles of music.