About the School

Mission

The School of Music is devoted to excellence, collaboration, and collegiality, with a mission to nurture individual talents in flexible, inspiring, and creative degree programs, with the goal of preparing students for the modern challenges of careers in the arts. Approaches to learning focus on diverse music styles, experimental learning, modern technologies and media, and innovative pedagogies. The School of Music offers performances and scholarly events of the highest quality to serve university, public, and professional communities.

Somos Músicos — "We are Musicians": a simple expression of solidarity of purpose and cooperation in an extraordinary community of musical artists, scholars, composers — the students and faculty of the School of Music

The Texas State University School of Music proudly provides an intensive and nurturing environment that emphasizes student-faculty interaction. We guide students to become performers, educators, and scholars. The School of Music has more than 90 faculty who teach over 550 music majors who perform in more than 30 ensembles. We offer a comprehensive array of degree programs, including:

Master of Music in Music Education
Master of Music in Performance (classical, Latin, and jazz), Composition, Conducting, Music History, and Music Theory
Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education (instrumental and choral) and Performance (classical and jazz)
Bachelor of Science degree in Sound Recording Technology
Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a minor or second major in an area other than Music

Why choose Texas State?

Here are some assets that distinguish our School of Music from others in the state and region.

Students study directly with world-class faculty, not with graduate assistants
Our award-winning ensembles include a high percentage of undergraduates
Our new Performing Arts Center, which opened in 2014, includes two Steinway D concert grand pianos and a beautiful custom-built Flemish-replica harpsichord
Our tuition rates are highly competitive
Texas State has over 40,000 students and is one of the four largest universities in the state of Texas, providing all the benefits of a large university while maintaining a small community feel
The city of San Marcos has a growing live music scene and provides easy access to the vibrant music communities in Austin and San Antonio.

Award-Winning Ensembles

Texas State Wind Symphony

Respected as one of the most outstanding collegiate wind ensembles in the nation, this 50-student ensemble has performed for prestigious music associations:

Seattle — College Band Directors National Association Conference
Fayetteville — College Band Directors National Association Conference Southwest Regional Conference
Kansas City — College Band Directors National Association Conference Southwest Regional Conference
San Antonio — Texas Music Educators Association Convention

Texas State Chorale

Our premier vocal ensemble performs on international, national and regional levels. Membership comprises outstanding musicians from various disciplines. Chorale has performed at:

China — The Shanghai Children's Palace, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Bejing's Forbidden City Concert Hall, and China Minzu University
South Africa — Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Denver — American Choral Directors Association
San Antonio — Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention

Texas State Symphony Orchestra

Performing the grand works of the symphonic repertoire, the orchestra also serves as a pit orchestra for annual opera productions and has played at a variety of venues off campus:

Europe — Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, England, Scotland, and Italy
U.S — The White House, State Dining Room, Washington, D.C.
San Antonio — Texas Music Educators' Association Clinic/Convention
Dallas — Meyerson Center

Texas State Opera Theater

Texas State Opera presents two fully staged productions each year. Highly successful and entertaining recent productions have included:

Mozart’s Magic Flute and Don Giovanni
Bernstein’s Candide
Kurt Weill’s Street Scene
Romberg’s The Student Prince
The World Premiere commission of Lady Bird written by Henry Mollicone and Sheldon Harnick (2016)

Latin Music Ensembles

A wide variety of performing opportunities are available through the Latin Music ensembles.

Mariachi Nueva Generación — a frequent winner of the prestigious Vargas Mariachi Extravaganza in San Antonio
Salsa del Rio — a three-time winner of Premios a la Música Latina and the 2007 winner of the 30th annual Downbeat Student Music Awards
Afro-Caribbean Lab — offers Salsa majors the opportunity to pursue arranging and improvisational techniques at the advanced level

Chamber Music and Small Ensembles

The Texas State Saxophone Quartet — won Down Beat Magazine's 36th Annual Student Chamber Music Award for 2013
Hill Country Jazz Bones — winners of the National Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition and 2nd prize for the International Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition (2013). Performed at the 2013 American Trombone Workshop and International Trombone Festival.
Trombone Choir — invited (by audition) to perform at the 2013 International Trombone Festival and 2015 American Trombone Workshop in addition to the 2013/2015 TMEA Convention, 2012/2015 Big 12 Trombone Conference and 2016 SliderAsia Festival.

Signature Degree Programs

At the Texas State University School of Music, we offer distinctive programs that blend rigorous training with real-world experience. Our students become confident performers, educators, and leaders across a wide range of musical disciplines. Explore some of our standout programs below:

Music Teacher Training

Our teacher training program consistently places nearly 100% of graduates in teaching positions—making it one of the strongest in Texas. More than 200 music majors each year gain expert instruction and hands-on classroom experience from kindergarten through high school. Optional certifications in mariachi or jazz education further expand your career options. Texas State-trained music educators are highly sought after across the state.

Latin Music Studies

Home to award-winning ensembles like Mariachi Nueva Generación and Salsa del Rio, our Latin Music Studies program is one of the best in the nation. Students can pursue a minor in mariachi or specialize in mariachi or salsa at the graduate level. The program features frequent master classes with guest artists, and students regularly perform at professional venues in San Marcos, Austin, and San Antonio.

Sound Recording Technology

Our Bachelor of Science in Sound Recording Technology is among the most respected programs in the country. Students work in professional-grade studios and labs, gaining real-world experience with projects and internships—including opportunities with Austin’s SXSW festival. Admission is competitive, with a focus on preparing you for a successful career in the audio and recording industry.

Jazz Performance

Texas State has a long-standing tradition of jazz excellence. Our jazz students perform at prestigious festivals around the world, including the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland and the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands. Courses in improvisation, history, and theory are taught by experienced jazz educators and regional artists. Students can join big bands, combos, and specialty ensembles.

Piano Performance

Led by international concert artist Dr. Jason Kwak, our piano program draws students from Texas, the U.S., Asia, and South America. Students can pursue degrees in Piano Performance, Sound Recording Technology, or the Bachelor of Arts. The program features master classes with guest artists, regular recitals, and the annual Texas State International Piano Festival—an intensive weeklong event attracting talent from around the world.

Community Outreach Programs

We believe music should enrich not only our students’ lives but also our community. These outreach programs connect our faculty and student mentors with young musicians in the greater San Marcos area:

Youth Mariachi

Hill Country Youth Chorus

Texas State String Project

Facilities

The Texas State School of Music is housed in multiple state-of-the-art facilities designed to support a wide range of programs, ensembles, and student needs.

The Pleasant Street Music Building. It i sunny and there is surrounding greenery.

Music Building: Located at 101 Pleasant Street, the Music Building features classrooms, multiple rehearsal spaces, 40 practice rooms, a piano lab, a music computer lab, the Schneider Music Library, and a 149-seat recital hall. It also includes faculty offices, teaching studios, and the main administrative offices.

The Performing Arts Center a brown and maroon building with arches. A brick sign reads Texas State University in front of the building.

Performing Arts Center: This modern facility on Moon Street includes a 312-seat Recital Hall with world-class acoustics, two Steinway D grand pianos, and a custom-built harpsichord. The center also houses the Patti Strickel Harrison Theater, a fully equipped venue for opera and theater productions.

A brown brick building, with a brick walkway and tree in front.

Evans Auditorium: The largest performance space on campus, Evans seats 933 and hosts major ensemble concerts and university arts events. It includes two Steinway concert grand pianos and supports performances by bands, orchestra, and other large groups.

A brown brick building, with a single beige collum visible. A metal sign above an entranceway.

Fire Station Studio: Home to the Sound Recording Technology program, this professional studio includes a large recording room, two smaller studios, and a mixing suite. It also serves the commercial recording needs of San Marcos and beyond.

A light brown building with large windows. A maroon and beige Texas State sign reads Colorado.

Colorado Building: Located on Pleasant Street, this building has 16 additional practice rooms, houses the Balinese Gamelan ensemble, and provides storage for the marching band.

Two students sit at desks. One is wearing a red shirt; the other is wearing a blue and white striped shirt.

Lampasas Hall: Offering Music an additional 5 offices and 3 teaching studios, Lampasas is the second oldest building on campus and was beautifully renovated in 2012. Lampasas Hall is also home to the Honors College.