In the Lone Star state, you’ll find a number of fine music colleges – and it’s no surprise why.
Texas is home to a rich musical culture that takes root in its K-12 education system. From big bands to youth orchestras, music thrives in the many cities of Texas, from big bands to youth orchestras, with Austin being compared to Nashville as America’s “music capital.”
The classical music scene in Houston is particularly strong; both the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera are among Texas’ most widely visited arts institutions, with many of their performers also serving as faculty at university music programs.
Today, let’s look into the best music schools Texas offers, examining what they can offer for each individual student.
Rice University Shepherd School of Music
The Shepherd School of Music is one of the most selective music institutions, maintaining a student body of only 275 students. This intentionally small size allows for 1-on-1 attention with faculty instructors and frequent performance opportunities.
The program’s musical excellence is evident in its competitive programs spanning performance, music history, composition, and conducting. Rice’s musical pedigree stems from classical music; if you are looking for jazz programs in Texas, I would suggest the University of North Texas or UT Austin.
Rice maintains a strong partnership with the Houston Symphony Orchestra, with many faculty members holding positions in both institutions. In fact, several alumni of Rice are current, full-time members of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
The musical excellence at Rice aligns with the school’s broader academic reputation – a university maintaining one of the nation’s lowest acceptance rates at under 9%, according to US News.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music benefits from its location in one of America’s best music cities.
The music school builds upon UT Austin’s robust academic reputation – ranked as the 7th best public institution in the United States – to deliver a comprehensive music education experience.
The faculty features highly accomplished musicians such as Nathanial Brickens, the former president of the International Trombone Association; Kristin Wolfe Jensen, who has taught for 30 years at the school and has had an unusually high number of students secure orchestral & big band jobs; and Bion Tsang, a cellist who has soloed with major groups, including the New York Philharmonic and National Symphony Orchestra.
Outside of classical performance and composition, UT Austin particularly shines in two distinct areas: music education and jazz studies. The Music and Human Learning program has produced numerous K-12 music educators across Texas.
Meanwhile, the school’s jazz program capitalizes on Austin’s live music scene, offering students opportunities to gain experience in the city’s many clubs and venues while pursuing their studies.
University of Houston Moores School of Music
The Moores School of Music at the University of Houston is truly a hidden gem among American music schools.
What makes it special? For starters, it remarkably affordable – Texas residents enjoy some of the lowest tuition rates, and even out-of-state students will pay much less here than with other private music schools.
The faculty are outstanding at University of Houston. For example, opera students get to work with Kathleen Belcher, who has been a director with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City for over 20 years.
Plus, just like their Houston neighbors at Rice, Moores School of Music students benefit from studying with faculty who are on the roster of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
Here’s something else that sets Moores apart: they have a strong emphasis on contemporary classical music. The school’s AURA ensemble regularly performs new works by student composers – an awesome opportunity for young composers to hear their pieces come to life through skilled performers.
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas College of Music houses the nation’s oldest jazz studies program, established in 1947.
For almost 80 years, UNT has been at the forefront of jazz performance education not only in Texas, but throughout the whole country.
UNT’s jazz program is home to the accomplished One O’Clock Lab Band, the highest lab band jazz students can audition for while studying at UNT. One O’Clock has seven Grammy nominations to its credit, more than any other collegiate jazz ensemble.
Outside of the One O’Clock Lab Band, there are an additional six lab bands jazz students can audition into.
While jazz may be its claim to fame, UNT extends into other offerings. The school boasts an impressive classical performance program, staffed by faculty who have distinguished themselves as accomplished soloists and competition winners. Their music education program leads to Texas certifications, allowing graduates to ability to teach at any public school in the state.
In keeping with its tradition of innovation, UNT has introduced a commercial music concentration in 2024, demonstrating its commitment to evolving alongside the music industry.
Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts
Southern Methodist University’s music program starts in the Owen Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility home to performance auditoriums, studios, and classroom spaces. Solo, chamber, and orchestral performances take place in Owen throughout the school year.
What truly sets SMU apart is its connection to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, a full-time professional orchestra. As of last year, 25 faculty members, representing about a quarter of the Dallas Symphony’s performing personnel, serve as instructors at SMU.
This group includes performers such as Christopher Adkins (Principal Cellist of the Dallas Symphony), Gregory Raden (Principal Clarinetist), and Haley Hoops (2nd horn).
Southern Methodist University offers substantial scholarships, in my experience, for strong applicants to the program, and is a solid opportunity to consider if you’re looking for music programs in the state of Texas.
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is perhaps best known for its musical theater program, where students aspiring to be professionals develop into “triple threats” in singing, acting, and dancing. Outside of the standard fare of performance classes, students also benefit from a curriculum involving theatre craft, directing, stage design.
In 2019, Onstage Blog ranked TCU among the top 30 musical theatre programs nationwide. One thing Onstage Blog noted was how the department encourages students to audition for professional theatre opportunities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
TCU’s musical offerings extend beyond musical theatre; as part of the College of Fine Arts, TCU’s School of Music has a strong selection of programs to choose from.
One of the unique majors at TCU is their Church Music program, designed for musicians who wish to work in religious settings as performers & directors.
Baylor University
Baylor University’s School of Music, located in Waco, Texas, is committed to both sacred and secular music, making it distinct among Texas’ music programs, offering opportunities for students interested in both church music and traditional classical training.
The school is home to an amazing musical facility, the state-of-the-art Glennis McCrary Music Building, which features practice rooms and two modern concert halls.
Baylor’s ensembles have gained national recognition – their Wind Ensemble, for example, has performed at venues like the College Band Directors National Association convention. Besides traditional music ensembles, Baylor is also home to unique groups like a handbells ensemble, Early Music collective, and even a percussion group.
The school also excels in teaching students K-12 music education, with strong connections to Texas public schools helping to ensure high placement rates for graduates.
Texas State University
Texas State University’s School of Music has found a “sweet spot” in creating K-12 music educators; it’s actually one of the largest producers of music teachers in Texas. In fact, 99% of its graduates get a job teaching in music, according to its site.
Texas State is unique because of its Latin Music Studies program, one of the few programs of its kind in the entire world. This program not only teaches Latin music, but also gives students hands-on performance experience in mariachi, salsa, and other Latin genres. Students can participate in the school’s distinctive mariachi ensemble, Nueva Generación.
Texas State’s facilities include the impressive Performing Arts Center, completed in 2014, home to concert halls and practice rooms.
Texas State is also home to a strong musical theatre program, which is sometimes ranked among the top programs nationally.
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech recently modernized its facilities with the opening of the J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts, providing students access to state-of-the-art recording facilities and practice spaces.
What’s particularly noteworthy about Texas Tech is its concentration in commercial music – unlike most other schools in Texas, Texas Tech embraces modern music production.
In fact, the school has an internship partnership with the nearby Amusement Park Studio, which produced a song by the band Flatland Cavalry that made it to #2 on the iTunes country charts.
Texas Tech also has a strong band program. The school’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland, one of the largest marching bands in the country, offers opportunities for students to perform during football games & other events at Texas Tech’s Jones AT&T stadium.
Hardin-Simmons University School of Music
As a private Baptist university, Hardin-Sommins specializes in sacred music training while maintaining solid classical performance majors and music education offerings.
Their “World Famous” Cowboy Band, established in 1923, represents one of the school’s most distinctive traditions – they perform in full Western attire, complete with cowboy hats and boots! It is a uniquely Texan take on the traditional college band experience.
HSU’s music education program has built a reputation for preparing music teachers, particularly for schools in West Texas, while its sacred music program prepares students for careers in church music ministry.
Their facilities include the Woodward-Dellis Recital Hall and the Van Ellis Theatre, providing students with professional-quality performance spaces.
