About
For over 120 years, Miami University has carried a proud tradition of training musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs. Today, as we stand at the threshold of unprecedented technological advancements. Miami is uniquely positioned to prepare our students for what lies ahead.
Here you will study with mentors who are recording artists, Grammy winners, internationally recognized scholars and educators, award-winning conductors, and stage directors who teach and perform around the globe. Our nationally recognized ensembles have been awarded four American Prize winners, national conference invitations, and tour internationally.
Our alumni grace the world’s stages as performers, conductors, and entrepreneurs; they serve as talent agents, create their own companies, and stand among the finest music educators in the nation.
There is a reason Miamians live by the code of Love and Honor. Here you will find tradition, brilliant peers, and one of the most beautiful college campuses in the country. We invite you to visit us and discover why Miami holds such a special place in the hearts of our alumni, and to see firsthand how we prepare the next generation of leaders to take center stage.
Benjamin Smolder, Interim Chair
Accreditation
Miami’s Department of Music holds accreditation as an institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Ohio Department of Education. Furthermore, the Miami Education program receives specialized accreditation from NASM. Miami University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Facilities
The Miami University Department of Music is housed in two main buildings on South Patterson Avenue—Presser Hall and the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA)—with additional access to Souers Recital Hall and Hall Auditorium. Together, these venues provide students with state-of-the-art classrooms, studios, practice spaces, and performance opportunities.
An All-Steinway School
Miami University is proud to be an All-Steinway School, ensuring that every teaching space, rehearsal, and performance features the world-class quality of Steinway & Sons pianos.
Presser Hall
Named for the music publisher Theodore Presser and built with support from the Presser Foundation, Presser Hall first opened in 1931 and underwent a major renovation and expansion in 2008. It is home to classrooms, rehearsal and practice rooms, faculty studios and offices, music libraries, and the Department of Music Office.
Presser also features specialized facilities, including:
- Electronic Music Studio – with industry-standard hardware, software, and equipment for composition, recording, and interactive music technology.
- Music Technology Classroom – supporting coursework in recording, conducting, notation, composition, and music education.
Center for Performing Arts (CPA)
Shared with the Department of Theatre, the CPA houses classrooms, rehearsal spaces, and the administrative offices of the College of Creative Arts.
Souers Recital Hall
The 150-seat Sidney W. Souers Recital Hall is the department’s primary venue for recitals, chamber music, and master classes, presenting nearly 100 public events each year. It currently features two Steinway grand pianos (Model D and Model B).
Hall Auditorium
First opened in 1908 and fully renovated in 1992, Hall Auditorium is a 735-seat venue and the site of most large Music Department concerts. With its acoustically refined design, advanced lighting and sound, and prime location near Oxford’s uptown, Hall Auditorium is a vital connection between the University’s performing artists and the wider community.
Department of Music
The Miami University Department of Music encourages its students to develop their relationship to the discipline of music as they explore the world through the lens of a superb liberal arts education.
