The College of Performing Arts brings together Chapman University’s Conservatory of Music and the School of the Arts, comprised of the Departments of Art, Dance and Theatre. This partnership strengthens each discipline, while positioning the College of Performing Arts as the cultural and aesthetic center of the university. Students will enjoy the school’s atmosphere, which combines scholarship, creativity, free expression and intellectual curiosity through both curricular offerings and a broad spectrum of cultural events. College of Performing Arts students also get the chance to perform at special events, such as Chapman’s American Celebration, a Broadway-style musical revue that serves as the university’s largest annual fundraiser. Under the leadership of Dean Dr. William Hall, Chapman has plans for a new performing arts complex on the Orange campus that will serve the needs of our students and the entire community.

The Conservatory of Music is one of the nation’s premier music programs and is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. The Conservatory has a rich tradition in the arts with many of its graduates performing with major orchestras and opera houses throughout the United States and abroad. The Conservatory of Music is internationally recognized and offers students a conservatory experience within the environment of a liberal arts university. Faculty members are nationally and internationally recognized performers, composers, and educators.

The Department of Art offers a personalized education taught by experts who bring their experience as active artists, designers and scholars to the classroom.  The department also manages Chapman’s Guggenheim Gallery, an on-campus venue for professional artists, students and community arts organizations.

The Department of Dance provides students with the tools to become well-rounded and versatile independent artists who excel in careers of teaching, choreography and dance performance. Dance classes are held in the state-of the-art Partridge Dance Center. Dance students perform and choreograph in numerous on-campus productions as well as outside venues, such as the American College Dance Festival.

The Department of Theatre gives students the opportunity to participate in a strong professional training program with high-quality productions, while still enjoying the benefits of a small university. Theatre students benefit from the real-world experience garnered from working onstage and backstage with groups such as Shakespeare Orange County.