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

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

Almita Vamos, violin and Ksenia Nosikova, piano

Sunday, October 11, 2026 3:00pm
Voxman Music Building

Almita Vamos, violin and Ksenia Nosikova, piano

This concert is free and open to the public.

Canceled
Center for New Music Concert I promotional image

Center for New Music Concert I

Sunday, October 11, 2026 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building

https://cnm.uiowa.edu/

This concert is free and open to the public.

Concert program will be available here: https://performingarts.uiowa.edu/digital-programs/music.

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

Oboe Faculty Recital promotional image

Oboe Faculty Recital

Monday, October 12, 2026 7:30pm
Voxman Music Building

Oboe Faculty Recital

Heather Macdonald, oboe.

This concert is free and open to the public.

Concert program will be available here: https://performingarts.uiowa.edu/digital-programs/music.

Concert can be viewed via livestream here: https://music.uiowa.edu/events/school-music-livestream

Holding Space: Stories of Interdisciplinary Collaboration — Counterpoint event featuring Stephanie Miracle promotional image

Holding Space: Stories of Interdisciplinary Collaboration — Counterpoint event featuring Stephanie Miracle

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 5:00pm to 6:15pm
Voxman Music Building

Join us to celebrate the interdisciplinary work of University of Iowa choreographer and assistant professor of dance Stephanie Miracle, recipient of the 2026 Obermann Interdisciplinary Achievement Award.

Miracle will bring together dance, engineering, and the humanities in a brief improvisational performance featuring dancers Bea Beaman and Trinity Woody performing alongside robots built by the University of Iowa College of Engineering, with narration by Eric Gidal and music by Jean-François...

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