The Moores School of Music's commitment to academic excellence and the highest performance standards has made the institution a vital resource in the educational and cultural life of this city. We offers graduate students a rigorous program of study in both academic and performance areas, preparing talented graduates to become leaders in their fields. The University of Houston offers the following graduate-level music programs: Master of Music, Doctor of Musical Arts, and Certificate in Music Performance. Areas of concentration include: collaborative piano, composition, conducting, performance, music education, musicology, music theory, pedagogy and sacred music. With over 80 faculty members and 600 students, the Moores School of Music provides graduate students an unrivaled variety of performance opportunities and provides Houston with a diverse source of musical experiences. As the fourth largest city in America, our students have a wide array of opportunities for world-class cultural experiences at their doorstep. Our graduate students are also exposed to the many professional, religious and community-based performance opportunities the city has to offer.

1. Apply to the UH Graduate School. As part of the application system, applicants can do the following:
   • Pay the application fee 
   • Request letters of recommendation from music professionals. Applicants to the Doctoral or Masters programs should request three (3) letters. Applicants to the Certificate in Music Performance program should request two (2) letters. During the online application, applicants are asked for the names & email addresses of their recommending persons. Those individuals will be contacted directly by UH to submit their recommendations. Letters of recommendation should not be mailed or emailed to the Moores School of Music or the UH Graduate School.
2. Submit all official college transcripts to UH Graduate Admissions.
   • Proof of Degree. The State of Texas requires all incoming graduate students to provide proof that they have received the appropriate previous collegiate degree(s) in order to enter any graduate program. Students who apply while enrolled at another institution will be required to submit an additional, final transcript to the UH Graduate Admissions Office upon completion of their degree. (For example, a Master of Music applicant who is accepted during their senior undergraduate year must send a final transcript [showing degree conferral] after graduating).
   • International Transcripts. If you have attended an institution outside of the United States, please see the Graduate School's International Applicants Transcript Information for country-specific requirements.
   • Official Address. If your previous institution uses the eScript electronic transcript system, copies can be submitted to gradschool@uh.edu. Otherwise, send official transcripts by mail to
     
     University of Houston
     Graduate Admissions
     P.O. Box 3947
     Houston, Texas 77253-3947
3. Apply to the Moores School of Music . Students must complete both the University of Houston general application for graduate admission, as well as the Moores School of Music supplemental application (including the submission of all required documents, video recording, and test scores). Both live and video recorded auditions are used as the audition for scholarships. Graduate applicants are encouraged to submit their full application by the priority deadline. Please see https://app.getacceptd.com/houstonmusic.
   As part of the application system, applicants upload the following:
   • High-quality video recording for all performances, collaborative piano, music education and conducting applicants. See the application portal for specific video and audition requirements
   • Supplemental materials are required for certain programs. Please see below.
4. Apply for a Graduate Assistantship (the file is available within the Moores School Application)
   
   
5. International Applicants. If you have attended an institution outside of the United States, please see the Graduate School's  International Applicants Transcript Information for country-specific requirements.
   
   
   • International Applicants must satisfy English proficiency requirements via satisfactory scores on one of the standardized exams. Use school code 6870 for reporting scores.
   • International applicants are strongly encouraged to upload the following documents, which will be required to obtain a student visa if admitted:
     • A scanned copy of passport page(s) showing full name, date of birth, passport number and expiration date, and photo of the passport holder.
     • Letter of Financial Backing.

    If you have questions about the application process, please email  musicadmissions@uh.edu . 

Master of Music 


Statement of purpose (minimum of 250 words). 
Complete CV / résumé (including relevant professional and performance experience). 

String applicants: Please upload at least ten minutes of music that best represents your playing. You will be notified if you pass the pre-screening round and are invited to a live audition.  

Voice applicants: Video recording should contain 5 pieces (including 1 at least aria); comprehensive repertoire list; and printed program from the student's last degree recital. 

Woodwind/Brass applicants: Video recording should include one piece or short excerpts that exhibit contrasting lyrical and technical styles.  

Composition: A portfolio of composition work. 

Conducting: Video recording should contain at least 10 minutes of applicant conducting in rehearsal settings and at least 10 minutes in concert settings 

Musicology: Official GRE Scores (should be submitted to UH by the deadline); two (2) research papers (at least one must be from an undergraduate music history/literature class). 

Music Theory: Official GRE Scores (should be submitted to UH by the deadline); samples of theoretical papers. 

Music Education: Official GRE Scores (should be submitted to UH by the deadline); statement of student's teaching philosophy; copy of teaching certificate or certification plan; a high-quality 20-30 minute teaching video. 


Doctor of Musical Arts 


Statement of purpose (minimum of 250 words). 

Complete CV / résumé (including relevant professional and performance experience). 

A scholarly writing sample (term paper, thesis, etc) of at least ten pages which includes citations and evidence of research ability and original thought. 

String applicants: Please upload at least ten minutes of music that best represents your playing. You will be notified if you pass the pre-screening round and are invited to a live audition.  

Voice applicants: Preliminary evaluation recording should contain 5 pieces (including 1 at least aria); comprehensive repertoire list; and printed program from the student's last degree recital. 

Woodwind/Brass applicants: Preliminary video recording should include one piece or short excerpts that exhibit contrasting lyrical and technical styles. The pre-screening upload should be no more than 10 minutes in length. 

Collaborative Piano: Preliminary evaluation recording should contain one solo memorized work from the standard classical repertoire and two collaborative works representing contrasting styles and periods; complete repertoire list. 

Composition:  Portfolio of previous composition works (for details, click here); a curriculum vita. 

Conducting:  Preliminary evaluation video recording should contain at least 10 minutes of applicant conducting in rehearsal settings and at least 10 minutes in concert settings 

Music Education: Official GRE Scores (should be submitted to UH by the deadline); statement of student's teaching philosophy; copy of teaching certificate or certification plan; a high-quality 20-30 minute teaching video. 

Piano Performance: Video recording should contain two memorized works of contrasting styles and periods from the standard classical repertoire; comprehensive repertoire list.

Certificate in Music Performance

Performer's Dossier (including curriculum vitae, performance reviews, professional references, repertoire list, printed programs, and other appropriate materials).

Voice applicants: Printed program from last degree recital, complete repertoire list.