Who Are We?
The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University cultivates the mastery of musical performance, combining a conservatory experience with the educational opportunities of a leading research university. With an enrollment of just 285 students, Shepherd fosters a close-knit, highly supportive environment defined by individualized instruction and exceptional artistic standards.
Each music major fine-tunes their craft with world-class teachers—accomplished artists and scholars in their own right—who are dedicated to nurturing talent and professional success. Through intensive mentorship and personalized training, students gain the skills, experience, and artistic voice needed to accelerate artistic growth and build distinguished careers.
In just fifty years, the Shepherd School of Music has risen to international prominence, becoming one of the youngest and most prestigious university-level programs in the country.
Our Alumni
Our alumni include Pulitzer Prize and Grammy winners. They have debuted at Carnegie Hall, appeared with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera, and hold positions in orchestras and chamber music groups around the country and the globe.
In just over four decades we have become a leading international music school, making us both one of the youngest and one of the most prestigious university-level programs in the country.