圣地亚哥加州大学音乐系提供了一个独特的环境，在此环境中，作曲家，表演者，即兴演奏者，计算机音乐研究人员和音乐学者都采用最重要的思想和最新技术，以突破当代音乐的界限。社区重叠的关注点揭示了一个充满传统但不断扩大的地形，令人兴奋的合作气氛和相互尊重的竞争气氛。该系享誉世界的教职员工致力于推动和激发独特的UC圣地亚哥音乐社区。教师和学生经常在音乐会上，在唱片上以及在国家和国际场所一起表演。节日，座谈会和杰出的参观者营造了一个充满活力和动感的环境，可以开展协作，并研究我们这个时代背景下的新音乐领域和音乐。<br>
Fostering the creative, intelligent, and passionate performance of contemporary music is the mission of the Performance Program of the Department of Music. As once stated by founding faculty composer Robert Erickson, we at UC San Diego are a community of musicians.<br><br>Performers act and interact in a communal environment by means of collaboration with faculty and student composers, research in the areas of new performance modalities, music technology, and improvisation, among many other pursuits. The performance of contemporary music is viewed as a creative act that balances expertise and exploration.<br><br>Graduate performance students pursue either a master of arts or a doctor of musical arts degree in contemporary music performance. The course of study for both programs involves the completion of required graduate seminars and intensive study with a mentoring faculty member. Students are encouraged to adopt a vigorous, exploratory orientation in their private study. Final degree requirements include two recitals and the presentation of personal performance research.