School of Music

violin students in residency class with composer Jessie Montgomery

Make music the heart of your education

Grow your talent. Build a foundation. Launch your career.

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.

Study Here

a collaborative pianist (left) prepares to play music alongside a cellist (right)

NEW: GRADUATE DEGREES IN COLLABORATIVE PIANO

ma in piano dma in piano

Build a foundation

Our Bachelor of Music program will help you build a musical career. Our Bachelor of Arts program will let you combine your musical education with any other Iowa major.

Build a foundation

Expand your horizons

Earn your MA, PhD, or DMA studying with internationally respected faculty artists and scholars in a welcoming, supportive community. We offer assistantships and fellowships.

Expand your horizons

close-up of Damani Phillips teaching in class

Learn from experts

Our faculty are outstanding teachers and mentors at the forefront of their musical disciplines. As performers, composers, scholars, educators, and therapists, they are active professionals respected across the nation and around the world.

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.

more hancher residencies

Sean Harken portrait taken in Voxman Music Building

“I think it really represents the performance culture at Iowa. It feels triumphant but also inspiring.”
-Sean Harken, on the process of composing the track "Lights Up" for a collaborative Performing Arts At Iowa video project

Read Sean's story

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.

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headhsot of Caitlyn Valencia in Voxman Music Building

“The School of Music is like home to me. There are a lot of different opportunities available for both undergraduate and graduate students. I’ve grown a lot here."
-Caitlyn Valencia

read Caitlyn's story

Write Your Story

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

Apply

“In Iowa City, I discovered a home away from home. I was included right away in the School of Music’s vibrant atmosphere and embraced by a nurturing community that helped me flourish as a person while honing my musical skills.”

- Mady Doucette

read mady's story