Graduate Programs
Graduate students in the Department of Music are mentored by expert faculty and excel in teaching, research, and performance.
Masterful Music Experiences
Graduate students in the Department of Music gain teaching experience in the classroom. Guided by distinguished faculty, graduate students conduct research important to their areas of study and interest. Students are encouraged to reach the next level of musicianship with focus on solo performance, chamber group collaboration, and leadership roles in ensembles.
The department offers the following graduate degrees:
- Master of Music
- Emphases: Instrumental Music Performance, Piano, Collaborative Piano, Vocal Music Performance, Music Education, Choral Conducting, Ethnomusicology, Musicology Music Education, or Music Theory
- PhD in Music
- Emphases: Music Education or Music Education and Gender Studies.
With a variety of degree paths, UM Music gives graduate students the freedom to focus on their music related goals.
For general information on any of the master degrees, contact Dr. Rhonda Hackworth, Graduate Coordinator in Music.
Emphases | Master of Music
This degree is tailored for students aiming to refine their expertise in music to an advanced, specialized level. It is designed to offer a comprehensive education in various musical disciplines, allowing students to focus on their specific interests and career objectives.
Bring your passion for music to the podium
Whether a choral or instrumental music educator, expand your horizons in a program tailor-suited to you. Receive advanced training in choral conducting, choral repertoire, score study, and work from the podium with a variety of ensembles. Learn alongside passionate, caring researchers and educators who will bring your goals into focus and help you succeed as a conductor and music educator.
Faculty contact: Dr. Donald Trott
Explore your potential with other musicians
Whether you aspire to collaborate with singers or instrumentalists, we have a myriad of opportunities for you to pursue your goals as a pianist. Perform recitals, chamber music, symphonic repertoire, and so much more while studying with distinguished and experienced piano faculty at UM Music.
Faculty contact: Adrienne Park
Learn about the rich and diverse music cultures of the world
Explore the human experience of music and the ways in which it intersects with communities, institutions, and other disciplines. Intensify your training to include multicultural perspectives through our diverse course offerings taught by expert ethnomusicologists.
Faculty contact: Dr. George Worlasi Kwasi Dor
Grow your skill in brass, woodwind, strings, or percussion
Whether you aspire to be a teacher, performer, or connect music to other fields of study, we have a myriad of opportunities for you to pursue your goals.
Hone your playing on trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, bassoon, clarinet, flute, oboe, or saxophone in studio lessons, and perform various genres in large and small ensembles.
Perform with a passionate group of gifted peers and study with world-renowned faculty. Whether your instrument is violin, viola, cello, or double bass, we have a place for you.
Join one of the most diverse percussion programs in the country.
Hone your playing on drum set, orchestral percussion, solo marimba, timpani, chamber percussion, jazz vibes, and world percussion, and perform a variety of genres in large and small ensembles. Whatever your musical goals, let the accomplished Percussion faculty at UM Music guide you every step of the way.
Faculty contact: Micah Everett
Bring your passion for music into the classroom
Whether you want to inspire as a teacher, lead as an administrator or explore exciting areas of research, let your journey begin at the University of Mississippi.
You can choose from four areas of emphasis: band, choral, keyboard, or orchestra. From classroom to stage, our acclaimed faculty will bring your music education goals into focus and help you succeed as a music educator.
Faculty contact: Dr. Rhonda Hackworth
Understand the music you love on a deeper level
Forge links with your solo instrument, ensemble performances, historical context, and philosophy of music as our nationally recognized faculty address all aspects of musical analysis. UM Music’s unique approach to music theory will prepare you for a professional career in music.
Faculty contact: John Latartara
Study music history in a small and tight-knit community of scholars
Focus on music in all its manifestations from traditional notated repertories to a wide range of oral and improvised practices. Receive personalized attention as your hone your craft as a thinker, writer, presenter, and listener of music. Students in the program also have direct access to the rich musical and cultural legacy of the region, the vast holdings of the University of Mississippi’s world-renowned Blues Archive, as well as the rich literary history of the City of Oxford.
Faculty contact: Dr. Thomas Peattie
Explore your potential
Whether you aspire to be a teacher, performer, or connect music to other fields of study, we have a myriad of opportunities for you to pursue your goals as a pianist.
Continue your musical journey at UM Music with distinguished and experienced piano faculty who will nurture your talent and allow you to realize your potential.
Faculty contact: Ian Hominick
Let your voice be heard
Whether you aspire to be a teacher, performer, or connect music to other fields of study, we have a myriad of opportunities for you to pursue your goals as a singer. Study in a program that is catered to your interests and abilities: solo voice, opera, choir - you can do it all at UM Music. Our world-class faculty is here to guide you to the next level of vocal excellence, whether you picture yourself in the classroom, in front of a choir, or on the operatic stage.
Faculty contact: Jos Milton
PhD in Music
The PhD is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in preparation of university teaching, research, and other leadership roles in music education. The program is individualized to fit each student’s interest and background.
Students may select an optional concentration in Gender Studies to provide rigorous grounding in gender studies methods and theory.
Make Grad School Affordable
Learn about the costs of a graduate education in music and how we can help make it more affordable. Discover scholarships, financial aid, assistantships, and other opportunities designed specifically to make your dream a reality.
UM Music offers substantial scholarships for music majors through the Music Major Advantage (MMA) initiative, which aggregates scholarships and financial awards from across campus and the Department of Music. To be considered, applicants must apply to the University of Mississippi, complete the Music Scholarship Application, and audition.
Master of Music
Assistantships for full-time masters students start at $6,500, waive out-of-state portion of tuition (a value of $17,568), and waive 75% of the in-state portion tuition (a value of $6,939). Additional scholarships could further boost the value of the total package.
Ph.D.
Assistantships for full-time PhD students start at $11,500, and waive 100% of both the in-state portion of tuition (a value of $9,252) and the out-of-state portion of tuition (a value of $17,568). Additional scholarships and fellowships could boost the value of the total package even further.
Application Process
Assistantship assignments are based on your interests and strengths and the needs of the department. Formal acceptance to the Graduate School and a graduate program within the Department of Music is required to be considered for an assistantship.
To apply for an assistantship:
- Download and complete the Graduate Assistantship Application.
- Email the completed application to Rhonda Hackworth.
- Letters of recommendation should be sent directly to Rhonda Hackworth from the recommenders.
Applications submitted by March 1st will receive priority consideration. After March 1st, assistantships will be awarded only if positions are still available.
Learn how much you can expect to pay for a graduate education at Ole Miss — and find ways to bring that cost down with scholarships, aid, assistantships with other departments, and more.
Welcome from the Coordinator of Graduate Programs
As you embark on an exciting journey of advanced study, research, and musical exploration, we are thrilled to have you as part of our vibrant and dynamic community. Our department is dedicated to fostering an environment that encourages creativity, academic excellence, and professional growth. We are excited to see the contributions you will make in your graduate study and look forward to supporting you in achieving your goals.
Rhonda Hackworth
Associate Professor of Music Education
Get to Know the Faculty
George Dor
- Professor of Music
Micah Everett
- Professor of Music
Rhonda Hackworth
- Associate Professor of Music Education
Ian Hominick
- Professor of Music
John Latartara
- Associate Professor of Music
Jos Milton
- Associate Professor of Music
Adrienne Park
- Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano
Thomas Peattie
- Associate Professor of Music
Donald Trott
- Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities