A master’s degree in music performance at SMU Meadows helps professional musicians build the skills necessary for a lifetime on stage.

Graduate programs

Master of Music in music performance

Advancing music performance of the next generation of music professionals

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Program format

In person

Commitment

Full time

Duration

Two years

Overview

SMU Meadows School of the Arts’ Division of Music provides a professional and comprehensive education devoted to the advancement of music performance and the preparation of the next generation of music professionals. As a graduate student in the music performance program, you will gain instruction from internationally recognized faculty in a wide variety of musical pursuits.

Graduate degree programs in music are designed to provide increased specialization in the major field beyond the undergraduate level while assuring that students continue to develop the breadth of competencies required of well-rounded music professionals.

Specializations

Brass, percussion and woodwind instruments performance

Our renowned international faculty is committed to preparing students for a professional career in both solo and collaborative brass, percussion and woodwinds performance. Our students consistently excel in international and national competitions and are accepted into the world’s finest summer music festivals.

Guitar performance

A music performance graduate degree in guitar prepares students to pursue a career in performance or to undertake further studies at the doctoral level, positioning them to become college studio professors.

Organ performance

Organ majors experience a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere in which to grow as an organist and as a musician as a whole. Our tradition of excellence in organ performance has been an inspirational environment for organists from around the world.

Piano performance

Through strong faculty, a rigorous musical education, plentiful performance opportunities and state-of-the-art facilities, a music performance graduate degree in piano prepares students for a career in performance or further studies at the doctoral level.

Strings performance

With a faculty of world-renowned soloists, chamber musicians and orchestral artists, strings students enjoy unique access to some of the finest pedagogues and visiting international artists.

Voice performance

Studying voice at SMU Meadows places you within a program defined by distinguished faculty and a strong record of alumni success across the professional music world. Students benefit from expert mentorship and comprehensive training in all areas of vocal study. Graduates emerge as confident, expressive artists prepared to build meaningful careers on stage, in the classroom and throughout the arts.

Thinking Grad School? Think SMU.

Envisioning a brighter future? Think grad school at SMU, where you join a lifelong family network and see immediate returns on your educational investment. Take your new big step at SMU.

Student success

Students who earn an M.M. in music performance from SMU achieve conservatory‑level mastery with top faculty, perform in state‑of‑the‑art venues and gain strong career preparation.

This program prepares you for a wide range of professional paths, from performance and education to careers behind the scenes in the music and entertainment industry. Graduates go on to become performing musicians, collegiate instructors, and accompanists, as well as producers and production specialists. Others pursue roles in arts and industry leadership or serve as musicians within faith and community settings. The breadth of preparation reflects a program designed to support both artistic excellence and professional versatility.

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

20

faculty members are in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra

9

music ensembles in which students perform

Student stories

Master of Music in Performance graduates bring their experience and training to Houston Grand Opera.

Voice performance alumni bring SMU Meadows training to the Houston Grand Opera stage

Jasmine Williams ’25, ’26, master’s graduate and Performer Diploma student, brings her artistry and training to HGO’s production of Porgy and Bess alongside fellow Meadows voice program alumni.

Korkmaz Saglam, a master’s in music performance student at SMU Meadows, was selected for the Cliburn Competition.

Piano student selected to perform in prestigious Cliburn Competition

Piano performance and Artist Diploma student Korkmaz Saglam ’26 was selected to compete in the Seventeenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

Admissions

Deadlines and details

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Application questions

Find answers to Meadows application questions.

Additional links

Requirements

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcript
  4. English language proficiency documentation (if applicable)
  5. A Bachelor of Music degree from an accredited institution

View all requirements

Ready to apply?

Get started here.

Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at SMU.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

MUED 6305

Introduction to Instrument Pedagogy

Prepares instrumental private teachers for studio teaching.

MUAS 6010

Music Engagement

Students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities for performance, master classes and community engagement. Students may also be called upon to serve as ambassadors for prospective students.

MURE 6101

Graduate Recital

Solo performance of approximately one hour of music. Graded pass/fail by committee.

View course catalog

Outside the classroom

Featured news

Meadows School of the Arts, one of the nation’s premier institutions of performing, communication and visual arts, presents approximately 400 events each year, including elaborate main stage productions, student-produced works, recitals, seminars, exhibits and workshops. By showcasing news-worthy and innovative projects, student and faculty awards and alumni spotlights, the Division of Music encourages its students, and the SMU community, to celebrate their successes while pursuing a love of music.

Faculty

The distinguished music faculty at SMU Meadows are internationally recognized performers, scholars and educators dedicated to mentoring the next generation of artists.

The faculty is committed to the highest standards of teaching and to active professional participation in music performance and research.

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Christopher Adkins

Christopher Adkins

Adjunct Professor of Cello
Charles Aguillon

Charles C. Aguillon

Director of Athletic Bands
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music

Stephen Ahearn

Stephen Ahearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet
Sarah Allen

Sarah Allen

Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Music Education
Christopher S. Anderson

Christopher S. Anderson

Associate Professor of Sacred Music
Sergei Babayan

Sergei Babayan

Joel Estes Tate Endowed Chair in Piano and Artist in Residence
Baker-George-April-2023

George Baker

Adjunct Associate Professor of Organ
BrianBentley

Brian Bentley

Adjunct Lecturer
Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd

Chair of Strings, Director of Chamber Music
BryantJohn-May-2023

John Bryant

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Drumset Studies
Bryan Burns, guitar

Bryan Burns

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Guitar
Sara Chigani

Sara Chigani

JW Brown Music Therapist-in-Residence
Kim Corbet

Kim Corbet

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Jazz/Rock History/Interdisciplinary Studies
Edward Cumming

Edward Cumming

Martha Raley Peak Endowed Centennial Chair
Director of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra
Sara Daneshpour

Sara Daneshpour

Assistant Professor
Jack Delaney

Jack Delaney

Director of Bands and Professor of Music
Chair of Instrumental Ensembles
Andres Diaz

Andres Diaz

Professor of Cello
Dupuy-Virginia-October-2023

Virginia Dupuy

Professor, Voice
Stefan-Engels-April-2024

Stefan Engels

Leah Young Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Music Performance and Professor of Organ
Donald Fabian

Donald Fabian

Adjunct Associate Professor of Saxophone
Mark Feezell

Mark Feezell

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition,
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Kevin Finamore - Adjunct Professor of Trumpet

Kevin Finamore

Adjunct Professor of Trumpet
Clifton Forbis

Clifton Forbis

Professor and Chair of Voice
Kevin Gunter

Kevin Gunter

Associate Director, Division of Music
Senior Lecturer II, Coordinator of Class Piano
Harder-Lane-2022

Lane Harder

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Carole Harris

Carole Harris

Assistant to the Director, Coordinator for Business Operations and Planning
Daniel Hawkins

Daniel Hawkins

Adjunct Professor of Horn
HearnBarry

Barry Hearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone

Laura Hearn

Assistant Director, Division of Music
Willa Henigman, Oboe

Willa Henigman

Adjunct Associate Professor of Oboe
Christopher Hepburn

Christopher Hepburn

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
DavidHeyde

David Heyde

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Sam Holland

Sam Holland

Algur H. Meadows Dean and Professor of Music
Chad Hoopes with Violin

Chad Hoopes

Professor of Practice in Violin
Haley Hoops

Haley Hoops

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Derrick Horne

Derrick Horne

Professor of Practice in Music
Director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra
Ronald Houston

Ronald Houston

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola and Violin
Hyae-Jin Hwang

Hyae-jin Hwang

Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy
Lynne Jackson

Lynne Jackson

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
BrianJonesOct2020

Brian Jones

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Percussion
Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones

Director of Meadows World Music Ensemble
Tom Keck

Thomas Keck

Director, Division of Music and Professor of Music
Camille King

Camille King

Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice
Kara Kirkendoll Adjunct Flute Professor

Kara Kirkendoll Welch

Adjunct Associate Professor, Flute
Diane Kitzman

Diane Kitzman

Adjunct Associate Professor, Violin
April Kondrat

April Kondrat

Adjunct Lecturer
Peter Kupfer

Peter Kupfer

Associate Professor of Musicology
Drew Lang

Drew Lang

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Percussion
Pierre LaPointe

Pierre Lapointe

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola
Jon Lee

Jon Lee

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Music Education
Carol Leone in red shirt

Carol Leone

Professor of Piano, chair of Piano Studies
Emily Levin

Emily Levin

Adjunct Associate Professor of Harp
Janice Lindstrom

Janice Lindstrom

Chair and Senior Lecturer II, Music Therapy
Michael Lively

Michael Lively

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Catharine Lysinger

Catharine Lysinger

Professor of Practice, Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Piano Preparatory Department

Alessandro-Mazzamuto

Alessandro Mazzamuto

Adjunct Associate Professor of Piano
Darren McHenry

Darren McHenry

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bass Trombone
Andreas Mitisek

Andreas Mitisek

Associate Professor of Practice
Director of Opera Theatre 
Jamal Mohamed

Jamal Mohamed

Adjunct Lecturer, Director of Hand Drumming Ensemble
Barbara Hill Moore

Barbara Hill Moore

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Professor of Voice
Susie Moten

Susie Moten

Adjunct
Melissa Murray

Melissa Murchison Murray

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Naoko Nakamura

Naoko Nakamura

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Harp
GeorgeNicksonPercussion

George Nickson

Chair of Percussion Department, Professor of Practice, Director and Conductor of SYZYGY,…
Kristina Nielsen

Kristina Nielsen

Chair, Department of Musicology
Associate Professor of Musicology
Chris Oliver

Chris Oliver

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone
Brian Perry with Double Bass

Brian Perry

Adjunct Associate Professor, Double Bass
Andrey Ponochevny

Andrey Ponochevny

Adjunct Artist in Residence
Diane Powell

Diane Powell

Adjunct Professor
Gregory Raden

Gregory Raden

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet

James Richman

James Richman

Adjunct Lecturer, Harpsichord
Jarrod Robertson, Tuba

Jarrod Robertson

Adjunct Assistant Professor
James Romeo

James Romeo

Adjunct Associate Professor of Flute
Adam Salas

Adam Salas

Adjunct Associate Professor
Paul Schmidt

Benjamin Scheer

Adjunct Lecturer in Music Composition and Theory

Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
Julie Scott

Julie Scott, Ph.D.

Professor of Practice in Music Education; Co-Chair, Music Education; Director, SMU Music…
Julie Scott

Alexander Sitkovetsky

Artist-in-Residence, Violin
Ed Smith

Ed Smith

Adjunct Lecturer, Vibraphone
jason-smith-voice

Jason Smith

Senior Lecturer and Vocal Coach
Ted Soluri

Ted Soluri

Adjunct Associate Professor of Bassoon
Stuart Stephenson, Trumpet

Stuart Stephenson

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trumpet
Marcell Steuernagel

Marcell Silva Steuernagel

Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program
Christina Stock

Christina Stock

Adjunct Professor
Story-Rosalyn-November-2023

Rosalyn Story

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Leon Turner

Leon P. Turner

Assistant Professor of Practice
Laureen Whitelaw

Laureen L. Whitelaw

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Winchell-Margaret-August-2024

Margaret Winchell

Director of Choral Activities
Assistant Professor of Music
WuQianSept2022

Wu Qian

Adjunct Associate Professor in Piano Chamber Music
xie-dongni-october-2025

Dongni Xie

Collaborative Piano Coordinator
xi-wang

Xi Wang

Professor of Music Composition and Theory

Facilities

The Meadows School of the Arts boasts a multitude of environments for performing arts and learning.

Concert performances take place in Caruth Auditorium, O’Donnell Hall and Perkins Chapel, with opera productions in the Bob Hope Theatre.

An inspiring collection of more than 110,000 books and scores, 31,000 audio and video recordings, and 100,000 items in special collections are housed in the Jake and Nancy Hamon Arts Library.

Music students benefit from 50 individual practice rooms and a laboratory for class instruction in piano, theory and improvisation. The school also features 30 Steinway grand pianos, three harpsichords and eight pipe organs.

Other facilities include an electronic music studio for research, creation, production and instruction of electro-acoustic music and an on-campus music therapy clinic that offers student therapists opportunities for faculty-supervised, clinical practicum experiences.

Caruth Auditorium is a concert hall for music education and performance students at SMU Meadows School of the Arts.

Caruth Auditorium

A 490-seat concert hall with an acoustical construction that can be “tuned” for any type of musical presentation.

O’Donnell Hall is a multi-purpose music education and performance facility in the Meadows School of the Arts at SMU.

O’Donnell Hall

The versatile, 168-seat O’Donnell Hall is used as a classroom, lecture hall, recital hall and screening room for music, art history, photography and advertising classes and seminars.

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Frequently asked questions

The Master of Music (M.M.) in music performance is a graduate degree option that provides professional focus and advanced studies in your instrument of choice. This degree prepares students to pursue a career in performance or to undertake further studies at the doctoral level, positioning them to become college studio professors.

A Master of Music (M.M.) in performance from SMU Meadows School of the Arts prepares graduates for careers as a professional soloist, orchestral musician, chamber artist or session musician, while also qualifying you to teach at the collegiate level, manage arts organizations or operate a private studio.

In addition to developing advanced technical proficiency on your instrument or voice, a Master of Music in music performance will hone your skills in high-level ensemble performance and sight-reading capability. You will also gain the necessary skills to manage performance anxiety and master your stage presence. And those with aspirations of being freelance musicians will be better able to navigate areas of entrepreneurship and business management.

SMU offers extensive performance opportunities including graduate recitals, chamber music ensembles, large ensemble (choir, opera, orchestra, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble) and collaborations with faculty and guest artists. Students will also gain professional experience through on-campus, off-campus and community performances in Dallas with organizations such as the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera and the Dallas Chamber Music Society, among others.

Audition requirements vary by instrument. In short, you can submit a recorded audition, however, all organ, piano and voice candidates must first submit a prescreening video with their application. Once you’ve submitted your Meadows Online Application, your application status page will include a checklist and a link to select your in-person audition date. Recorded auditions have their own deadline. Find a complete list of graduate studies audition requirements by instrument here.

(Note: Master of Music degrees in music education, composition, conducting, music history and literature and music theory pedagogy do not require an audition on a principal instrument/voice.)

Of course! Graduate students in the M.M. in music performance program receive individual attention in small-class environments and through specialized, hands-on guidance. The music faculty at SMU is made up of distinguished performers and scholars who are dedicated to mentoring the next generation of artists, fostering a collaborative, supportive environment.

Yes, the Master of Music (M.M.) in performance at SMU offers multiple specialized tracks and instrument specializations. The program focuses on intensive study in specific areas, including orchestral instruments (brass, woodwinds, percussion and strings), organ, piano, piano performance and pedagogy, and voice. Graduates of the program are expertly qualified for a career in music performance or going on to doctoral study.

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