Welcome to the School of Music

The University of Kentucky’s School of Music – internationally recognized for excellence in performance, music education, and research in music – has played an important part in the development of musical life in Kentucky and beyond since 1918. 

The School of Music offers degree programs within five areas of study as well as Minors in Music Performance and Music Theory & History. Our performance areas are brass, keyboards, percussion, strings, voice, and winds; each boasting world-class faculty on a variety of instruments. Additionally, we have research programs for scholars and professional training for teachers.

Stanley Pelkey, Director
Lori Hetzel, Associate Director

The UK School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Visit the NASM website for more information.
Explore Our Programs
BM
Admission to the Bachelor of Music program in music performance is granted only after the successful completion of an audition in the student’s performance area.
BA
The Bachelor of Arts in Music provides the flexibility multidisciplinary students need with a grounding in music theory, history and performance. Popular with students pursuing double majors, the BA in Music provides a liberal arts approach to the study of this fine arts discipline.
BMME
Music Education majors may choose between a vocal/elementary general music track or an instrumental (band/orchestra) track.
Minor
The Music Minor is an excellent option for students from any college to continue with playing an instrument or vocal performance without a major in the School of Music.
Minor
The Music Minor is an excellent option for students from any college to continue with playing an instrument or vocal performance without a major in the School of Music.
MM
The School of Music offers the Master of Music (M.M.) with specialty areas in performance including an MM in Sacred Music.
MA, PhD
The School of Music offers several graduate degree options in Musicology/Ethnomusicology: an M.A., a Ph.D., or a combined M.A./Ph.D.
MM
The University of Kentucky School of Music houses Kentucky’s first and only graduate program in music therapy.
MA, MM, DMA, PhD
The five full-time faculty members of UK theory & composition are engaged in active creation and research with distinction in popular music studies, pedagogy, Schenkerian studies, 19th-century music, and commissioned compositions.
MM, DMA
Students at the UK School of Music enjoy hundreds of opportunities each year to perform in solo recitals, chamber groups and our more than 30 diverse instrumental and vocal ensembles. Our ensembles have performed at prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall and have enjoyed international tours to China, Italy, France, Spain and more.
MM, PhD
UK subscribes to the philosophy that training in music education should be as practical and hands-on as possible.
Graduate Certificate
Students will study anatomy and physiology of the singing voice, voice disorders, and more.
Graduate Certificate
The division offers extended training in theory pedagogy for DMA and other doctoral students students in performance, composition, and other areas of emphasis; preparing them for faculty appointments that include duties in teaching theory. The program involves individual mentoring with theory faculty in addition to coursework.
Graduate Certificate
Orff Schulwerk is “Music for Children”, a way to teach and learn music using poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as basic materials.
Graduate Certificate
Dalcroze Eurhythmics is an approach to music education created by Emile Jaques-Dalcroze. The Dalcroze Institute at the University of Kentucky emphasizes music-teaching strategies to develop imagination, coordination, and expression.
Undergraduate Certificate, Graduate Certificate
The School of Music Certificate in Baroque Trumpet develops performance and interpretation skills for the natural trumpet.
Upcoming Events
  • Mar 30 2024 | 7:30pm

    UK Jazz Ensemble & UK Lab Band
    Singletary Center for the Arts | Recital Hall
    Saturday, March 30th, 2024 

    UK Jazz Studies presents Big Band Blast XIV in the SCFA Recital Hall,…

    Singletary Recital Hall
  • Apr 1 2024 | 6:30pm
    FA Building, Room 17
     Mind Your Money for Musicians, "Making it as a Musician," is a session in a personal finance series hosted by Elizabeth King, a double major in Finance and Music…
    Fine Arts Building
  • Apr 4 2024 | 7:30pm
    Singletary Recital Hall
  • Apr 7 2024 | 3pm

    Kentucky Percussion Society Service Project presents
    Women in Percussion

    Carl A Lampert Recital Hall, FA Room 22

    World premiere works by Samantha Vivian and Gavin Milby

    Fine Arts Building
  • Apr 9 2024 | 7:30 - 8:30pm

    UK Sax Ensembles

    Singletary Recital Hall
  • Apr 10 2024 | 6:30pm

    A collaborative event between the UK Piano Studio and College of Arts and Sciences Department of Languages.

    John Jacob Niles Gallery
  • Apr 10 2024 | 7:30pm
    Faculty Chamber Music Recital
    Featuring the Maribo Trio
    ToniMarie Marchioni, oboe
    Scott Wright, clarinet
    Allison Nicotera, bassoon
    With Guests
    Melanie Kjellsen, horn
    Jacob…
    Singletary Concert Hall
  • Apr 11 2024 | 7:30 - 8:30pm

    UK Lab Band Concert

    Singletary Recital Hall
  • Apr 12 2024 | 3:30pm
    Rey M. Longyear Lecture Series - Henry Spiller, emeritus professor, UC DavisAlternative Modernities: twenty-first-century approaches to archaic bamboo music in West Java, IndonesiaHenry Spiller is an…
    John Jacob Niles Gallery
  • Apr 13 2024

    A REGIONAL AFFILIATE OF THE MUSIC FOR ALL NATIONAL FESTIVAL

    What is Windfest?

    Windfest is Kentucky’s premier concert band festival in conjunction with Music for All. Windfest gives middle and…

    Singletary Center
Created 08/12/2021
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Last Updated 01/24/2024