Photo of James Laughlin Hall, a red brick academic building with large arching windows and an American flag on a pole by the entrance

James Laughlin Music Center

Classes taught in the James Laughlin Music Center include violin, guitar, piano, and drums.

It also offers soundproof practice rooms and music offices and classrooms.

Events and presentations are held in the Welker Room in this building. 

Photo of a redbrick academic building, James Laughlin Music Hall, on Shadyside Campus. It's a sunny, autumn day with blue skies and fall foliage.

Career Development

The Office of Career Development is also located in this building.

Career Development is much more than a place to get help with your resume. It offers lots of opportunities to help you explore your interests and figure out how to best translate them into professional development.

  • Photo of a symphony's string musicians performing on stage.

    Music @ Chatham

    Musical training is complemented by a solid liberal arts foundation, with critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills, as well as thoughtful career preparation. All students complete at least one internship as well as take courses in areas such as music technology that further diversify their professional skills.

    Explore the Program
  • Photo of a music studio with desk, black microphone, and laptop.

    Music Business @ Chatham

    This major is designed to prepare you for leadership roles through expertise in strategic planning, management, marketing and artistic planning. You will have experience with both live and recorded music management, and be fluent in music-specific business issues such as copyright, publishing, and performance rights.

    Explore the Program
  • Photo of a man playing on the soundboard in a music studio while a woman sings.

    Music Technology @ Chatham

    Chatham’s music technology program sets you up for success through allowing mastery of industry-leading technologies for editing and sequencing, putting on the final touches—taking a piece of music all the way from recording through to producing a finished product. Courses in music theory and web design round out your education.

    Explore the Program

Hear from Music Students

Chatham’s music program hits all the right notes. Hear from three students on what they like about it by clicking here.

“This program is one of a kind, thanks to the attention paid to the student and the smaller class sizes.”
—Justine Barry, Music & Psychology ‘19

“Since Chatham is small, there are a lot of opportunities for exposure on campus if you have a craft or talent; you are able to attend unique, intimate concerts and easily talk to the musicians afterwards. You also get to make connections through your instructors and can get exclusive opportunities for music workshops and performance gigs.”
—Erion Morton, Music ‘20

“I chose Chatham’s music program because of the Ruud scholarship. The scholarship not only gives me extra lessons and class time every week but it pays the full price of my lessons.”
—Kaitlyn Salmon, Music ‘21

Katie Hetz ‘20, Piano

“Music, like flowers, blooms in the most unlikely of places. Unlike flowers, it also blooms amid some of the worst conditions: frosts, floods, tornadoes, wars, pandemics...what can’t it stand up to? As we perform from our bedrooms, our dining rooms, or places outside our homes for some of us, we are expressing music's incredible ability to traverse boundaries.”

Listen to performances from Chatham’s Music students by clicking here.

 

Katie Hetz performing “Piano Sonata No. 30, Op. 109: I” by Ludwig van Beethoven

39 Years of the Chatham Choir Cabaret

Originally called the “Mostly Pop Concert,” Chatham University’s choir has been putting on an outstanding fall Cabaret for the past 39 years. Read Pulse@ChathamU’s interview with Stacey Brett Davern, director of choral activities, by clicking here.

 

Enjoying your self-guided tour? Click here to visit to campus, or contact an Admissions Counselor to learn more about Chatham.