Why Iowa?

We're a close-knit artistic community within a major research university that's famous for its arts programs. We offer world-class musical instruction, ongoing performance opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, and solid preparation for your career.

Build a foundation

Expand your horizons

Learn from experts

Music at Iowa

It’s hard to find a school of music that delivers so many opportunities all within an undeniably individualized and inspirational setting.

Your destination for the Performing Arts

Creativity is at the heart of everything we do. We blend artistry and technology to offer a tremendous variety of ways to enjoy the performing arts.

Guest Artist Experiences

Students in the UI School of Music have the opportunity to work with 100+  guest artists each year, gaining invaluable insights from world-renowned performers and educators. Last year alone, guests included members of top-tier ensembles such as the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as faculty from prestigious institutions like Eastman, Rice, and the Hartt School of Music. The program also welcomed international guests from France, Vienna, Colombia, Chile, and the Philippines, fostering a truly global musical experience for our students.

Jessie Montgomery

2024-25 Hancher Composer-In-Residence
Acclaimed composer Jessie Montgomery spent an incredible year working side-by-side with UI music students. Through workshops, one-on-one coaching, masterclasses, and more, more than 200 students had the unique opportunity to learn, perform, and grow through her music.

The Crossing

Ann Howard Jones Vocal Ensemble Residency Program

In February 2025, after spending a week with our students in the classroom, The Crossing hosted three remarkable events on campus. The first was a Shared Solo Recital featuring UI alumna Anika Kildegaard. This was followed by a Creative Matters Conversation with UI alumni David Lang and Ann Howard Jones, and conductor Donald Nally. The week culminated in a full performance by The Crossing featuring the University of Iowa's Kantorei.

See yourself here

You've worked hard on your music. Now you can use all that creativity and knowledge as your launch pad. If you dream of a musical career—or simply a musical life—Music at Iowa is right for you.

Write Your Story

Earn a well-rounded liberal arts education—with rigorous, personalized musical instruction at its core.

jazz performance in Recital Hall

9:1

Student-to-faculty ratio
student at piano looking into camera smiling

350 +

Annual public performances
Master class in flute classroom with student

450

Undergraduate and graduate students

Events

Curator Guided Tour of 'Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon' promotional image

Curator Guided Tour of 'Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon'

Monday, February 16, 2026 4:00pm to 5:00pm
University of Iowa Main Library

Join co-curators Sarah Suhadolnik and Katie Buehner for a special guided tour of the current University of Iowa Libraries Main Library Gallery exhibition, Orchestrating Community: The Public Service of Iowa Conductor James Dixon. Admission is free, and all are welcome.

This event is part of Free Week 2026, a festival sponsored by Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District.

About the exhibit:

An Iowa native and a Hawkeye, conductor James Dixon (1928–2007) was instrumental in building...

DMA Qualifying Recital: Jacob White, horn

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building

DMA Qualifying Recital: Jacob White, horn

Click here for concert program.

This concert will be livestreamed here: https://music.uiowa.edu/events/school-music-livestream.

This concert is free and open to the public.

Chamber Music Concert of Works by Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor Lowell Liebermann promotional image

Chamber Music Concert of Works by Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor Lowell Liebermann

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building

Chamber Music Concert of Works by Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor Lowell Liebermann

This concert is free and open to the public, and is part of Free Week 2026, a festival sponsored by Think Iowa City and the Iowa City Downtown District.

Air for flute and organ Op.106 (2008) c.10’00”

Nicole Esposito, flute

Greg Hand, organ

Sonata for Contrabass and Piano Op.24 (1987) c.25'00"

Volkan Orhon, contrabass

Doreen Lee, piano

-Intermission-

Three Lullabies for Two Pianos, op. 76 (2001) c. 16’00...

American Voices: In Conversation with Lowell Liebermann and Gabriel Kahane promotional image

American Voices: In Conversation with Lowell Liebermann and Gabriel Kahane

Thursday, February 19, 2026 6:00pm
Voxman Music Building

Moderated by Director of Orchestral Studies and Music Assistant Professor Kenny Lee

Join us in conversation with two great working American composers, Lowell Liebermann and Gabriel Kahane, as they discuss process and artistry. Kahane is Hancher Auditorium’s 2025-26 Composer-in Residence, and Liebermann is an Ida Cordelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor hosted in the UI School of Music. The two composers are engaged in concurrent weeklong residencies at the University of Iowa, and will each...

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