The master™s in music composition offered by Â鶹Éç Meadows helps refine the skill necessary for a career in professional scoring.

Graduate programs

Master of Music in composition

Where creativity flourishes

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Program format

In person

Commitment

Full time

Duration

Two years

Overview

As a graduate student in the music composition program, you’ll advance your creative and technical skills to the next level. With numerous opportunities with professional performing arts organizations in Dallas, frequent award-winning resident ensembles and guest artists, and outstanding student ensembles, you’ll benefit from professional-level performances, readings and recordings of your works as you study individually with our nationally renowned faculty. 

The Division of Music’s commitment to new music composition and performance as well as a state-of the-art electronic studio will help you build a professional portfolio as you prepare for careers in music and media or further studies at the doctoral level.

Thinking Grad School? Think Â鶹Éç.

Envisioning a brighter future? Think grad school at Â鶹Éç, where you join a lifelong family network and see immediate returns on your educational investment. Take your new big step at Â鶹Éç.

Student success

Our students graduate with a competitive edge as they compile professional portfolios of works and gain valuable professional skills and experience in collaboration with Â鶹Éç Guildhall (game music) and divisions of Film & Media Arts, Dance and Theatre, all while rounding out their education at a top-ranked liberal arts university.

This program prepares you to excel in the following areas and professions:

  • Film scoring
  • TV composer
  • Game scoring
  • Commercial and advertising music
  • Concert and stage composer
  • Electronic music production
  • Sound designing
  • Music directing or conducting

Top 20%

Best National Universities

U.S. News & World Report (2026)

5:1

student-to-professor ratio

13

professional careers launched through annual Composer-in-Residence position with the Irving Symphony Orchestra

Student stories

Paul Johnson is a 2026 graduate with a degree in music composition from Â鶹Éç Meadows School of the Arts.

Paul Johnson ™26 named new Â鶹Éç-ISO Composer-in-Residence

A second-year master™s student double-majoring in music composition and music theory pedagogy has been selected as this year™s Â鶹Éç-Irving Symphony Orchestra composer-in-residence.

Admissions

Key dates and admissions information to help plan your application with confidence.

International students

All the essential admission requirements international students need to know.

Find answers to Meadows application questions.

Additional links

Requirements

  1. Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcript
  4. English language proficiency documentation (if applicable)
  5. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution

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Ready to apply?

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Tuition and financial aid

Tuition and costs

Explore the cost breakdown of tuition for graduate programs.

Financial aid

Find information on scholarships and financial support available at Â鶹Éç.

Curriculum and learning

Featured courses

MUTH 4310

Introduction to Electro-Acoustic Music

Covers historical and emerging concepts and techniques of composing, performing and listening to fixed and interactive electro-acoustic music via lectures and laboratory projects.

MUTH 6300

Analysis of Contemporary Music

Detailed analysis of recent music written in a variety of styles and using diverse techniques.

MUTH 6320

Advanced Composition

Individual study with the composition faculty and regularly scheduled seminars with faculty and visiting guests.

Outside the classroom

Featured news

Meadows School of the Arts, one of the nation’s premier institutions of performing, communication and visual arts, presents approximately 400 events each year, including elaborate main stage productions, student-produced works, recitals, seminars, exhibits and workshops. By showcasing newsworthy and innovative projects, student and faculty awards, and alumni spotlights, the Division of Music encourages its students, and the Â鶹Éç community, to celebrate their successes while pursuing a love of music.

Faculty

The distinguished music faculty members at Â鶹Éç Meadows are internationally recognized performers, scholars and educators dedicated to mentoring the next generation of artists.

With expertise spanning performance, composition, music education and more, they bring real-world experience and artistry into the classroom. Together, they foster a vibrant, collaborative environment where students thrive both as musicians and as individuals.

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Christopher Adkins

Christopher Adkins

Adjunct Professor of Cello
Charles Aguillon

Charles C. Aguillon

Director of Athletic Bands
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music

Stephen Ahearn

Stephen Ahearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet
Sarah Allen

Sarah Allen

Associate Professor and Co-Chair of Music Education
Christopher S. Anderson

Christopher S. Anderson

Associate Professor of Sacred Music
Sergei Babayan

Sergei Babayan

Joel Estes Tate Endowed Chair in Piano and Artist in Residence
Baker-George-April-2023

George Baker

Adjunct Associate Professor of Organ
BrianBentley

Brian Bentley

Adjunct Lecturer
Aaron Boyd

Aaron Boyd

Chair of Strings, Director of Chamber Music
BryantJohn-May-2023

John Bryant

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Drumset Studies
Bryan Burns, guitar

Bryan Burns

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Guitar
Sara Chigani

Sara Chigani

JW Brown Music Therapist-in-Residence
Kim Corbet

Kim Corbet

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Jazz/Rock History/Interdisciplinary Studies
Edward Cumming

Edward Cumming

Martha Raley Peak Endowed Centennial Chair
Director of the Meadows Symphony Orchestra
Sara Daneshpour

Sara Daneshpour

Assistant Professor
Jack Delaney

Jack Delaney

Director of Bands and Professor of Music
Chair of Instrumental Ensembles
Andres Diaz

Andres Diaz

Professor of Cello
Dupuy-Virginia-October-2023

Virginia Dupuy

Professor, Voice
Stefan-Engels-April-2024

Stefan Engels

Leah Young Fullinwider Centennial Chair in Music Performance and Professor of Organ
Donald Fabian

Donald Fabian

Adjunct Associate Professor of Saxophone
Mark Feezell

Mark Feezell

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition,
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Kevin Finamore - Adjunct Professor of Trumpet

Kevin Finamore

Adjunct Professor of Trumpet
Clifton Forbis

Clifton Forbis

Professor and Chair of Voice
Kevin Gunter

Kevin Gunter

Associate Director, Division of Music
Senior Lecturer II, Coordinator of Class Piano
Harder-Lane-2022

Lane Harder

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory and Composition
Co-Chair of Music Theory and Composition
Carole Harris

Carole Harris

Assistant to the Director, Coordinator for Business Operations and Planning
Daniel Hawkins

Daniel Hawkins

Adjunct Professor of Horn
HearnBarry

Barry Hearn

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone

Laura Hearn

Assistant Director, Division of Music
Willa Henigman, Oboe

Willa Henigman

Adjunct Associate Professor of Oboe
Christopher Hepburn

Christopher Hepburn

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
DavidHeyde

David Heyde

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Sam Holland

Sam Holland

Algur H. Meadows Dean and Professor of Music
Chad Hoopes with Violin

Chad Hoopes

Professor of Practice in Violin
Haley Hoops

Haley Hoops

Adjunct Associate Professor of Horn
Derrick Horne

Derrick Horne

Professor of Practice in Music
Director of the Meadows Jazz Orchestra
Ronald Houston

Ronald Houston

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola and Violin
Hyae-Jin Hwang

Hyae-jin Hwang

Lecturer in Piano Pedagogy
Lynne Jackson

Lynne Jackson

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
BrianJonesOct2020

Brian Jones

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Percussion
Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones

Director of Meadows World Music Ensemble
Tom Keck

Thomas Keck

Director, Division of Music and Professor of Music
Camille King

Camille King

Adjunct Associate Professor of Voice
Kara Kirkendoll Adjunct Flute Professor

Kara Kirkendoll Welch

Adjunct Associate Professor, Flute
Diane Kitzman

Diane Kitzman

Adjunct Associate Professor, Violin
April Kondrat

April Kondrat

Adjunct Lecturer
Peter Kupfer

Peter Kupfer

Associate Professor of Musicology
Drew Lang

Drew Lang

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Percussion
Pierre LaPointe

Pierre Lapointe

Adjunct Associate Professor of Viola
Jon Lee

Jon Lee

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Music Education
Carol Leone in red shirt

Carol Leone

Professor of Piano, chair of Piano Studies
Emily Levin

Emily Levin

Adjunct Associate Professor of Harp
Janice Lindstrom

Janice Lindstrom

Chair and Senior Lecturer II, Music Therapy
Michael Lively

Michael Lively

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Catharine Lysinger

Catharine Lysinger

Professor of Practice, Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Piano Preparatory Department

Alessandro-Mazzamuto

Alessandro Mazzamuto

Adjunct Associate Professor of Piano
Darren McHenry

Darren McHenry

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Bass Trombone
Andreas Mitisek

Andreas Mitisek

Associate Professor of Practice
Director of Opera Theatre 
Jamal Mohamed

Jamal Mohamed

Adjunct Lecturer, Director of Hand Drumming Ensemble
Barbara Hill Moore

Barbara Hill Moore

Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Professor of Voice
Susie Moten

Susie Moten

Adjunct
Melissa Murray

Melissa Murchison Murray

Senior Lecturer in Music Theory
Naoko Nakamura

Naoko Nakamura

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Harp
GeorgeNicksonPercussion

George Nickson

Chair of Percussion Department, Professor of Practice, Director and Conductor of SYZYGY,¦
Kristina Nielsen

Kristina Nielsen

Chair, Department of Musicology
Associate Professor of Musicology
Chris Oliver

Chris Oliver

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trombone
Brian Perry with Double Bass

Brian Perry

Adjunct Associate Professor, Double Bass
Andrey Ponochevny

Andrey Ponochevny

Adjunct Artist in Residence
Diane Powell

Diane Powell

Adjunct Professor
Gregory Raden

Gregory Raden

Adjunct Associate Professor of Clarinet

James Richman

James Richman

Adjunct Lecturer, Harpsichord
Jarrod Robertson, Tuba

Jarrod Robertson

Adjunct Assistant Professor
James Romeo

James Romeo

Adjunct Associate Professor of Flute
Adam Salas

Adam Salas

Adjunct Associate Professor
Paul Schmidt

Benjamin Scheer

Adjunct Lecturer in Music Composition and Theory

Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt

Adjunct Lecturer in Wind Pedagogy
Julie Scott

Julie Scott, Ph.D.

Professor of Practice in Music Education; Co-Chair, Music Education; Director, Â鶹Éç Music¦
Julie Scott

Alexander Sitkovetsky

Artist-in-Residence, Violin
Ed Smith

Ed Smith

Adjunct Lecturer, Vibraphone
jason-smith-voice

Jason Smith

Senior Lecturer and Vocal Coach
Ted Soluri

Ted Soluri

Adjunct Associate Professor of Bassoon
Stuart Stephenson, Trumpet

Stuart Stephenson

Adjunct Associate Professor of Trumpet
Marcell Steuernagel

Marcell Silva Steuernagel

Associate Professor of Church Music and Director of the Master of Sacred Music Program
Christina Stock

Christina Stock

Adjunct Professor
Story-Rosalyn-November-2023

Rosalyn Story

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Leon Turner

Leon P. Turner

Assistant Professor of Practice
Laureen Whitelaw

Laureen L. Whitelaw

Adjunct Lecturer of Musicology
Winchell-Margaret-August-2024

Margaret Winchell

Director of Choral Activities
Assistant Professor of Music
WuQianSept2022

Wu Qian

Adjunct Associate Professor in Piano Chamber Music
xie-dongni-october-2025

Dongni Xie

Collaborative Piano Coordinator
xi-wang

Xi Wang

Professor of Music Composition and Theory

Facilities

The Meadows School of the Arts boasts a multitude of environments for performing arts and learning.

Concert performances take place in Caruth Auditorium, O’Donnell Hall and Perkins Chapel, with opera productions in the Bob Hope Theatre.

An inspiring collection of more than 110,000 books and scores, 31,000 audio and video recordings, and 100,000 items in special collections are housed in the Jake and Nancy Hamon Arts Library.

Music students benefit from 50 individual practice rooms and a laboratory for class instruction in piano, theory and improvisation. The school also features 30 Steinway grand pianos, three harpsichords and eight pipe organs.

Other facilities include an electronic music studio for research, creation, production and instruction of electro-acoustic music and an on-campus music therapy clinic that offers student therapists opportunities for faculty-supervised, clinical practicum experiences.

Caruth Auditorium is a concert hall for music education and performance students at Â鶹Éç Meadows School of the Arts.

Caruth Auditorium

The 490-seat concert hall with an acoustical construction can be “tuned” for any type of musical presentation.

SMU Meadows students in the music composition degree program learn in a state-of-the-art electronic recording studio.

Electronic Music Studio

The studio is equipped for research, creation, production and instruction of electro-acoustic music in a comfortable environment.

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Request more info about the M.M. in composition program.

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Frequently asked questions

The Master of Music in composition program is flexible and designed to encourage independent stylistic development, technical skill and artistic excellence. Composers benefit from the division’s commitment to new music performance and a state-of-the-art electronic studio.

Our graduates have gone on to lead successful careers as freelance, traditional and film and game composers as well as educators and arts field professionals. Our emphasis on professional business skills as well as musical training gives students every opportunity to lead happy, productive musical careers.

Students have a wide variety of musical styles and types to focus on in the M.M. in composition program, from traditional compositions to film, game and electro-acoustic music.

Master of Music degree programs all include performance, research, pedagogy, musicology and music theory. The M.M. in composition specifically focuses on music technology, advanced composing for a variety of styles and ensembles, analytics and much more. Conversely, a Master of Arts in music is a broad study of a variety of musical forms.

Applicants must have earned a Bachelor of Music degree (or the equivalent) from an accredited institution.¯

Students applying to the at Â鶹Éç Meadows School of the Arts must submit a composition portfolio including at least two works that best demonstrate the diversity and strength of their compositional skills. Submission of recordings of these works is encouraged.

Graduate students, in addition to submitting a composition portfolio, must apply to the Meadows School of the Arts and submit transcripts, three letters of recommendation and a one-page goals statement describing their professional goals and compositional approach.

SMU’s industry-leading, professional game development program in Â鶹Éç Guildhall provides our students unparalleled opportunities to gain professional experience in game music as they work with their development teams from inception to final production in the release of original, new games every year on . Film music projects with our B.F.A. film students, ranging from shorts to feature-length films, are frequently screened at professional theaters and at the Dallas International Film Festival. These opportunities – even rare for graduate programs – are available for all composition majors at Â鶹Éç.

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