With around 23,000 students, the University of Texas at El Paso is a pretty big place. And with a net price of under $3,000 per year, it's among the best values of all U.S. research universities. On top of that, it has one of the most esteemed music programs in the southern United States, an attraction to both students and audiences. Boasting around 300 students, the UTEP Department of Music offers a number of degrees, including General Studies with Teacher Certification, Performance, Commercial Music, and Theory and Composition. Its diverse academic programs draw an outstanding base of talented young musicians. Naturally, there's a wide range of ensembles that perform regularly and include both music majors and non-majors.

The UTEP Symphony Orchestra, directed by Dr. Lowell Graham, is the university's primary orchestra. It performs numerous times throughout the year, and has a standard orchestral literature that includes works by Beethoven, Brahms, Ravel, and Respighi. The UTEP Wind Symphony is one of the crown jewels of the university. Playing six concerts a year, this group tours the Southwest and has performed at important functions like the Texas Music Educators Association and the College Band Directors National Association conventions. The Wind Symphony frequently commissions new works and has premiered compositions by a number of composers; it has also released numerous albums. The ensemble is directed by Bradley Genevro. The Marching Miner Regiment is another essential group in the UTEP Department of Music arsenal. With 250 members, it's the largest music ensemble at the university. The Regiment has appeared at professional football games around the country, at Disneyland, and at NCAA basketball tournaments. It comprises woodwinds, brass, and percussion, and performs with a color guard and the GoldDiggers dance team. The UTEP Department of Music also features a number of jazz ensembles.