Music Schools in Texas

Texas is blessed to have an abundance of wonderful music schools.  Since this is the time of year where my voice students start asking me about where they should get a music degree, I've listed the following schools as excellent for music.  You will still want to research the campus itself, voice teachers, relative strength in opera vs. musicals etc....but this is a good list to start with!

University of Houston - a public university that is perhaps the best school in Texas, and a leader nationally, for opera.

Southwestern University - a small liberal arts university known more for its academics, but gives you plenty of stage time, has great music faculty, and is close by to the Austin music scene.

Rice University - known more for its orchestral musicians, its opera program has really grown by drawing in top-notch faculty.  I don't know much about its musical theater program, but I can only assume it is excellent as well.

University of North Texas - The best known music school in Texas, it has perhaps the best jazz school in the country and also does well in other genres.

Baylor University - Lots of excellent classical singers attend Baylor.  And they like to throw a lot of scholarship money at singers, so definitely worth a look.

Texas State University - Perhaps the best musical theater school in Texas.  And yes, it is known as a party school, but that does not include its singers!

This list is leaving out several good schools like UT-San Antonio, UT-Austin, Trinity University, Abilene Christian University, and I'm sure I'm missing a few additional ones.  Texas is very lucky in regards to music.  I would apply to as many as possible, get some scholarship offers, and then pick and choose.

DWS