Welcome to UMSL Music!
Welcome to the UMSL Department of Music — a place where creativity, community, and opportunity come together. Here, you’ll find world-class teachers and performers, meaningful collaboration, and a program designed to help you build a fulfilling life in music. Whether you plan to major in music or simply want to keep it as an important part of your college experience, UMSL offers a welcoming environment where you can grow, connect, and thrive.
We believe in the power of music to bring people together and to create lasting community. Music is more than a discipline — it is a way of communicating, expressing ideas, and sharing experiences with others. Through performance, teaching, and creative work, our students and faculty make a profound impact on audiences, neighborhoods, and the cultural life of our region.
Outreach and collaboration are at the heart of everything we do. Our faculty are active performers, composers, educators, and scholars who engage locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. Students regularly work alongside faculty through mentorship, internships, community partnerships, and diverse performance opportunities. Together, we strive to make the arts accessible, meaningful, and transformative.
At UMSL Music, you’ll have the chance to discover what inspires you, develop your musicianship, and keep music at the center of your life.
Joanna Mendoza
Chair, Department of Music
Professor of Music, Viola
Mission Statement
The mission of the Music Department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis is to inspire and deliver a well-rounded education for performers, composers, scholars, teachers, and the university community with instruction necessary for success in a variety of music careers, entrepreneurship, and life-long learning. UMSL's Music Department is committed to teaching, research/creativity, and public service. In addition to its role of advancing knowledge as part of a comprehensive research university, the Music Department advances the University’s land grant tradition by enhancing the cultural life of the St. Louis metropolitan area, providing high quality and accessible educational experiences in music.
Department Overview
The University of Missouri - St. Louis is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). We offer Bachelor of Music degrees in Performance, Music Education, Music Theory, Music Composition, and Music with Elective Studies in Business. Additionally, students may pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music or a Minor in Music.
Numerous ensembles invigorate the UMSL Music Department and include diverse offerings for vocalists and instrumentalists. Each engages in performances on and off campus, outreach programs, concert series, and hosting experts for workshops and master classes. Our faculty is comprised of renowned artists/teachers, scholars, and educators, who strive to create a nurturing learning environment, while constantly assessing the needs of students, the region, and the music profession. Students' experiences are augmented by a core of talented and friendly peers who form a community of exuberant learners/musicians.
All of this and more are enhanced by the countless opportunities offered by the great city of St. Louis.
Music Building Hours
8am-6pm Every day
