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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.
Virtual Rehearsal Room (VROOM) – a cutting-edge space where students practice in front of a simulated “virtual audience” in acoustical environments of their choice, with full recording capability.
Exterior of Presser Hall in the Fall

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).

A string quintet performing at Souers Recital Hall.

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.

Glee Club on Stage at Hall Auditorium

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.