The Shepherd School of Music was founded in 1974, conceived as a conservatory inside a research university, pairing artistic mastery with academic rigor and curiosity.

Samuel Jones—founding Dean of the Shepherd School and a renowned composer and conductor—wrote our DNA into one line: Keep the roster small and the standards high. Half a century later, that charge still conducts every audition, class, and curtain call.

As we begin our next half-century, we remain devoted to nurturing gifted musicians who will take their art and Rice's benchmark for excellence into new stages and communities.

The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, TX, combines the rigor of a top-tier conservatory with the expansive possibilities of a world-class research university, providing students with the tools and opportunities to thrive artistically and intellectually.

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Audition Requirements

To ensure that our students are fully prepared to meet the demands of the profession, we have created an instructional area entitled Music Career and Skills Enhancement. Specific courses are designed to complement the Shepherd School's superb musical and academic training to help students transition to professional life. Additionally, Rice University's Center for Career Development supports alumni through career counseling and access to career resources.

Undergraduate Programs / Graduate Programs