Music (M.M.)

Our Master of Music program is designed to develop your professional and scholarly competence in a wide range of artistic and cultural areas.

Seven concentration areas are available: conducting choral, conducting instrumental, music education, music theory/composition, performance, performance collaborative piano, and performance pedagogy.

Curricula are very flexible and may be customized according to a variety of interests, such as jazz performance and composition, chamber music, specialization in instrument families, or media.

The program is composed of a minimum of 30-33 credit hours and requires participation in one major ensemble each semester. Thesis and non-thesis tracks are available.

Music at UL Lafayette

A group of University of Louisiana at Lafayette music majors perform at Festival International in Louisiana

Music is the Soul of our Community

Earn your master’s in music in one of the most active and culturally distinct music scenes in the United States. Because South Louisiana is known for two things: its cuisine and its music, students in UL Lafayette's music programs can thrive thanks to the opportunities provided by our culture and our community.

Specialized Facilities

Support your creative drive with state-of-the-art technology for music activities in research, composition, recording, and instruction.

Learn about facilities

Share Your Talents

You’ll have opportunities to participate in individual student recitals, ensemble and choir concerts, jam and improv sessions, and collaborations that bring our students and faculty together with others from across campus.

Acclaimed faculty

Faculty in the School of Music and Performing Arts are dedicated to being both educators and practitioners.

Learn more about faculty

Application Information

the faculty quintet at UL Lafayette

Application Deadlines

Fall: June 30 (Domestic)
May 15 (International)

Spring: November 30 (Domestic)
October 1 (International)

Note: Separate deadlines apply for funding consideration.

Funding

Funding opportunities such as assistantships and fellowships can help pay for your degree while letting you earn valuable experience for your career.

Learn more about funding opportunities and how to apply >>

UL graduate student at commencement ceremony

Assistantship Application Deadlines

Fall: March 1

Spring: November 1

UL Lafayette Quad at sunset

Contact

For more information about the program and funding availability, please contact:

Dr. Catherine Roche-Wallce, Graduate Coordinator
Phone: 337-255-8941
Angelle Hall 135
Email: roche-wallace@louisiana.edu

Music According to Grad Students and Faculty

Empowerment Mentorship Leadership Inspiration

Master of Music

"The best part about my time at UL was the freedom to pursue music as I saw fit. Often when talking with friends from other institutions about curating concerts or career development, they've commented that their proscribed curricula never allowed them to do precisely what they liked. The realization that I could write my own ticket is something I carry with me today."

Andrew Sigler, Music M.M. alum

Master of Music

“I feel that I was given an abundance of individual attention and a personalized education. The close personal and professional relationships I developed with my professors and intense private study provided me the skill and confidence to successfully audition for the most rigorous doctoral programs offered for my instrument.”

Julie Sabo, Music M.M. alum

Master of Music

“I learned how to be a leader—sitting principal chair in the top ensembles, teaching as a graduate assistant, or simply having the undergraduates look up to me as a model student. The school of music has a great sense of community. I was really comfortable to be myself and express my opinions in a personal and academic manner. This helped me build security in my musical expression and drive to learn more.”

Aaron Boquet, Music M.M. alum

Master of Music

“I love seeing the positive changes in how students develop their philosophies, strengthen study habits, and improve their performance through our interactions. The same way my own philosophies, work ethic, methods for learning and skill acquisition were illuminated by working with mentors in academia who were influential for me.”

Jeffery George Ph.D., professor of guitar studies

Careers in Music

Alumni Spotlight: Louisa Peng

Louisa Peng, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, stands out as a highly accomplished musician with a rich academic background. She recently completed her Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette under the guidance of Dr. Yuling Huang-Davie. Following this, she pursued a Performer Diploma in Collaborative Piano at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, studying with Dr. Chih-Yi Chen and Dr. Charles Prestinari.

During her tenure at UL Lafayette, Louisa Peng achieved notable accolades, including victories in the Concerto Competition and Hanley Piano Competitions in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Recognized for her outstanding contributions to the School of Music, she served as a representative for the Graduate Student Organization and graduated summa cum laude. As an educator, Louisa Peng demonstrated her commitment to teaching by serving as the teacher of record for undergraduate class piano at both UL Lafayette and Illinois State University.

Master of Music Alumni

Career Opportunities

Audio Engineer
Doctor of Musical Arts
Collaborative Pianist
Music Teacher
Music Producer
Film/TV Composer
Professional Musician
Arts Consultant

Program Requirements

In addition to satisfying the Graduate School application and admission requirements, you must also submit:

Audition for applied areas
Video Recordings when on-site audition are not possible because of the distance involved
Scholarly paper or scores for theory/composition concentration

The M.M. degree program requires completion of 30-33 graduate credit hours, successful completion of both a graduate listening examination and a comprehensive examination, and a thesis if pursuing a thesis-track option.

Learn more about the M.M. in Music curriculum in the catalog.

Resources

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