The Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium are just two of the historic venues where country music's great performers such as Johnny Wright, Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and Patsy Cline gave performances. While the Ryman Auditorium no longer gives shows, the wood from its historic stage has been incorporated into the Grand Ole Opry's stage for the most famous musicians of modern country music to give performances on today. The Country Music Awards (CMA) are held annually in Nashville at the Bridgestone Arena, further cementing the city as the traditional home and current focal point of country music.
Tennessee State University is a public college located in Nashville and offers a course of study in music as well as many other programs. Its Department of Music will celebrate 100 years of service in 2012, along with the rest of the school, and offers degrees in Commercial Music, Liberal Arts, Music Education and graduate degrees in music. The school prepares students for careers as professional music performers, concert band leaders, music teachers and more. Students may perform in the school's marching band, concert band, pep band, jazz vocal ensemble, commercial music ensemble and many more groups.
Lipscomb, Fisk, Belmont and Vanderbilt are all private universities in Nashville that offer degrees in music. These universities offer rich student life as well as musical programs with emphases in instrumental performance, theory and composition, piano and performance, vocal performance, instrumental musical education and vocal or general music education. A student may receive a well-rounded education and full experience from these universities' music school programs.
Nashville State Technical Community College and Free Will Baptist Bible College are colleges in Nashville that offer courses of study in music. Nashville State offers associate degrees in music and music technology and offers students hands-on learning opportunities making and mixing music. Free Will Baptist offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in music education, musical performance, church music ministries and church music and youth ministry, preparing graduates for service in the music industry or to meet the musical worship needs of churches.