The UI School of Music has long been recognized as one of the excellent university-based schools of music in the US and celebrated its 100th birthday in 2006 (read about its detailed history).
It has about 50 full-time and 10 part-time faculty members and approximately 450 music majors, including both undergraduate and graduate students. The school is large enough to have strong programs in all areas of specialization, but small enough to provide personal attention. There is a comprehensive array of courses for majors, and many opportunities for nonmajors to play and study music. The faculty consists of highly-trained artist-teachers in each area of specialization and scholars of international distinction (faculty directory: https://music.uiowa.edu/people). See Quick Facts about the School.
The atmosphere (in the Music School in general and the Horn Studio in particular) is friendly and the students are very supportive of each other.
Below is a sketch of the beautiful new state-of-the-art building (completed in the Fall of 2016), which takes up a city block downtown at the corner of Clinton and Burlington Streets downtown.
For more sketches (interior), click here.
Facilities
The School offers an extensive list of facilities, including many rehearsal halls and ensemble rooms, professional recording studios, technology center, ear training and listening facilities, electronic music studios, and the Rita Benton Music Library offers a wealth of scores, books, journals, recordings, CDs, LPs, DVDs and videotapes.
Performance Opportunities
It’s a very active place – there is a wide range of performing experiences available for the hornist. The performing ensembles are first rate, including jazz ensembles, Symphony Band, Concert Band, University Band, Hawkeye Marching Band, the UI Symphony Orchestra and Campus Symphony. There are also the Electronic Music Studios and the Center for New Music. In any case, you will never lack for playing opportunities (not mentioned here are other ensembles for vocalists, percussionists, etc.).
It's easy to join or start a chamber music ensemble such as brass choir and brass and woodwind quintet. If you know players already, you can form your own group and be coached by a faculty member. If you are new to the school, you simply have to apply, and you will be placed in a group (e.g. brass or woodwind quintet) of players of similar experience and level. In spring semester the horn studio gives a horn choir concert.
Honors
Exceptional music majors who are members of the UI Honors Program and maintain a GPA of at least 3.8 may undertake work leading to a bachelor's degree with honors. Graduation with honors is awarded after completion of 6-8 s.h. of honors work. Honors students are encouraged to take graduate-level courses, especially in music history, music theory, and languages.
Click here for general contact information for the School of Music.
ArtsIowa Events Calendar
The University of Iowa Home Page