The Department of Music offers a wide range of performance activities. The Chamber Players perform regularly on campus in orchestral concerts and with the Opera Theatre in its annual productions. The Ensemble for Contemporary Music performs on campus and in the community. The department has several choirs, among which the 32-voice Chamber Choir has toured France and the California missions. The Jazz Ensemble performs regularly on and off campus, and has participated in collegiate jazz festivals throughout California. Students may participate in the chamber music program and in early music, contemporary, and world music ensembles, as well as in numerous other instrumental and vocal groups. In addition, the department seeks to promote a spirit of collaboration among its performance, composition, and scholarly components, encouraging students to explore interdisciplinary activities and projects.
The community of Santa Barbara also boasts several fine orchestras such as the Santa Barbara Symphony, as well as numerous choral and theatrical ensembles, in which qualified UC Santa Barbara students have had the opportunity to participate. The UC Santa Barbara Department of Music has recently partnered with Opera Santa Barbara to afford students in the graduate voice program opportunities to work within a professional opera company while still pursuing their graduate degrees.