Organ/Harpsichord
The Meadows Advantage
As an organ major you will experience a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere in which you will grow as an organist and as a musician as a whole to become a mature performing artist. Meadows School of the Arts has a tradition of excellence in organ performance and has been an inspirational environment for many organists from around the world in the past decades.
Our renowned international faculty is committed to preparing you for a professional career in performance, pedagogy and church music. The excellent cooperation with the Master of Sacred Music program in the Perkins School of Theology offers additional and most valuable educational opportunities on a wide spectrum of subjects.
SMU possesses superb organs, ranging from the noble Fisk op. 101 in Caruth Auditorium, an 18th century Oldovini and an early 20th-century Hook & Hastings organ. The former Aeolian-Skinner organ in beautiful Perkins Chapel was recently replaced with an unaltered, fully restored original E. M. Skinner organ from 1927, Op. 563. The dedication of this instrument is planned for later in 2024. Furthermore, there is a variety of fine practice organs by Beckerath, Holtkamp, Janke, Kern and Sipe. The city of Dallas hosts organs from internationally renowned organ-builders such as Bedient, Casavant, Dobson, Fowkes, Kern, Letourneau, Nichols & Simpson, Noack, Pasi, Schoenstein, Schudi and Sinclair, and also excels with top-notch church music and choral programs at its amazing array of churches and concert halls.
Thus, there are plentiful performance opportunities in a variety of settings on and off campus. Combined with a state-of-the-art facility, you will have abundant opportunities and the personal attention needed to develop your gifts. Generous scholarship opportunities will make it possible to focus intently on your studies and to ensure your artistic development.
At SMU, you will encounter a rich musical experience on a beautiful campus within close proximity to the downtown Dallas Arts District. As a result, you will not only have access to all the advantages of being a student in the Division of Music at this prominent university, but will be within easy reach of more than 500 cultural events a year. The world class Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera, Dallas Chamber Music Society, Chamber Music International, the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and other arts organizations all interact with SMU’s Meadows School of the Arts to create a vital cultural life for you. Our 300 music students form a close-knit community for you to engage with and learn from while enjoying university life.
Undergraduate Degrees for Organists
Graduate Degrees for Organists
- Master of Music in Organ Performance
- Performers Diploma in Organ Performance
- Artist Diploma in Organ Performance
- Master of Sacred Music
These degree programs prepare students to pursue a career in performance, teaching and / or church music or to undertake further studies at the graduate / doctoral level. The graduate performance degree is completed in four semesters of study with a minimum of 30 credits required for graduation. The Performers Diploma and Artist Diploma are two-year programs (20 credits) for musicians in their final stages of preparation for professional performance careers.
Complete the graduate application online.
Scholarships and Financial Assistance
If undergraduate need-based financial aid is desired, the FAFSA and CSS Profile must be completed. All applicants are considered for academic and music scholarships. We will do our best to provide a financial aid package that makes an education in the Meadows School of the Arts affordable.
Graduate financial assistance is available through merit scholarships, graduate assistantships, and work-study positions. The FAFSA is required for work-study and graduate assistantships.