The Faculty's departments are today internationally renowned for their excellence in education, international artistic ensembles and activities. Since it's founding the main objective has been to train artists, educators and researchers with high creative and interpretative skills in various fields of music.

In addition to the undergraduate and graduate programs, preparatory primary and high schools for music were also founded with the aim of starting music education at the earliest possible age. In order to expand music education to everyone, regardless of age and profession, programs such as the Early Music Training Program for children and "Part-time Music Education" have been ongoing since its founding. The Institute of Music and Performing Arts was established to provide graduate education through its Master's and Proficiency in Art (doctorate) level programs.

The Music Department offers Bachelor of Music-B.M., Master of Music-M.M, Proficiency in Art/Doctor of Music-D.M.A. degrees in the following programs and fields;

Amongst numerous artistic activities of the faculty are the "International Chopin Piano Competition" 1999 and the "International Theater Meeting" 1998. Since 2001, the students of the music department won many prizes in national and international competitions including "Sarasate", "Palmeres 30. Concours International de Musique et d'Art Sonore Electroacoustiques", IBLA, Charles B. Olson Young Composers Competition. In 2003, the Bilkent Youth Choir won a gold medal in the 21st International Preveze Choir Contest and achieved the runner-up position in the 33rd Florilege Vocal de Tours 2004 competition in France.

The Bilkent Symphony Orchestra was founded in September 1993 as an original artistic project of the Bilkent University, developed by the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, the orchestra is composed of experienced artists in the Faculty from various countries as well as Turkish and foreign young artists, who continue their studies at "masters" and "proficiency in art" (doctorate) levels, at the Institute. With these characteristics the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra, consisting of 90 proficient artists from 12 different countries, is the first private, academic and international artistic group in Turkey.

Starting as a "Sinfonietta" the Symphonic orchestra now has the identity of an "Ensemble of Orchestras" comprising the "Bilkent Chamber Orchestra" and an "Ensemble of String Instruments". With a minimum of 50 concerts a year and the participation of Turkish and foreign conductors, soloists and choirs, the ensemble of Orchestras has distinguished itself through the recording, television and radio broadcasting of its numerous performances. Through events such as "Bilkent Concert Series", "Turkish Composers Week", "Education Concerts" and "The Bilkent Anatolia Music Festival", the orchestra aims to bring a wide range of activities to large audiences; to spread the appreciation of music at the national level through its tours; to undertake international activities and develop cooperation with institutions abroad organizing such events; to help gain permanent academic staff at the Faculty; and to form a bridge of artistic communication with other countries.

Along these objectives the orchestra has toured to Italy, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, Switzerland and recently to Japan. The orchestra has recorded over 40 CD's with labels such as BMP and EMI.