New Bulgarian University (Bulgarian: Нов български университет, also known and abbreviated as НБУ, NBU) is a private university based in Sofia, Bulgaria. NBU was established on 18 September 1991 by Bogdan Bogdanov and a group of Bulgarian intellectuals with a resolution by the Bulgarian Parliament.

The mission of New Bulgarian University is to:

- be an autonomous academic institution that supports students in their entrepreneurial and personal development.

- be a liberal academic institution, based on the link between education, research and entrepreneurship.

- provide interdisciplinary general and specialised education, based on theoretical research and practical knowledge.

Department of Music has existed since New Bulgarian University was founded. The creative performances and studies of the department are in the field of musical and stage genres: classical music, popular music, opera, ballet, folklore, as well as in the sphere of artistic practice and integration of music into the new computer technologies.

Since the very first semester the students of music programs have the opportunity of creative performances on professional stage in classical music, opera singing, jazz, pop, rock and folklore genres.

The department has developed and introduced training in opera and ballet directing, computer systems in music:  computer music composing, classical and jazz guitar, dancing art, musical management and producing.

 The cooperation of Music Department with Bulgarian and international organizations ensures the up-to-date exchange of knowledge and ideas in the field of modern musical art.

Some of the significant activities of the Department are: A scientific conference for PhD students  and post-doctoral fellows with international participation ’Young scientific forum of music and dance’ – a scientific periodical journal,  NBU Academic Orchestra’ Orpheus’, International Summer Musical Jazz Academy; concerts and seminars of performance artistry with the participation of prominent musicians  from Europe,  regular seminars ‘Musical Sub-horizons’ and ‘Culture and Music’; opera, musical and concert performances in Sofia and in Bulgaria.

Department of Music has developed a Bachelor Program ‘Music’; Master programs ‘Musical Performance’ in Bulgarian and in English, ‘Dancing Art’, ‘Sound Engineer’; doctoral program ‘Music’ which includes the first of its kind in Bulgaria module performance artistry of the doctoral students.