The Department of Music offers undergraduate and graduate programs of study, as well as courses of study in Music Performance (Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, Strings, Piano, Voice, and Guitar), Music Education, Music History and Literature, and Music Composition and Technology.

We offer a graduate program of study in music, preparing the student for a career in a performing area, music education, music history and literature, conducting, or theory and composition. The Master of Music program permits concentration in performance (voice or instrument), chamber music performance, conducting, music education, music history and literature, theory and composition, collaborative piano (vocal or instrumental), and string pedagogy.

Our Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) program is designed for students seeking intensive study to develop those skills needed for a professional career and/or preparation for graduate school.  The Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree is designed for students looking for a broad-based understanding of multiple aspects of music in addition to areas outside of the music field.  The Minor in Music is designed to provide students with basic knowledge and broad choices in coursework.

Our programs prepare students for careers in the performing arts, music education, music history and literature, conducting, and theory and composition. A conservatory-style department nestled within a leading research university, our professional artist-faculty inspire and frequently collaborate with students on campus and within Wisconsin’s cultural capital.

Our faculty and programs maintain strong partnerships with performance organizations in Milwaukee and the surrounding region providing a vibrant urban location that puts students in the cultural mainstream of a thriving and sophisticated metropolis of over one million people.

The department is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and provides professional training and personal enrichment as the main focus of the Music curriculum. Visit us at: uwm.edu/arts/music/.

Peck School of the Arts: Music Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Music scholarship, you are encouraged to audition no later than March of the school year preceding your intended matriculation. Lists of suggested repertoire, which can serve as a helpful guideline for your audition, can be obtained from the Peck School of the Arts Department of Music website at: uwm.edu/arts/scholarships/ or contact the Music Department at (414) 229-5217.

Midwest Residence Savings

UW-Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts participates in the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP), which awards reduced tuition rates to Undergraduate and Graduate residents of Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, and North Dakota.

Illinois residents save even more with an automatic $1,000 Milwaukee Advantage Award.

Minnesota residents are eligible for the Minnesota Reciprocity program and are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

Music for the Non-Major

While professional training is the main thrust of the UWM Music curricula, the department offers many personal enrichment courses for the non-music major. UWM students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of Performing Organizations such as:

  • University Advanced Women’s Choir
  • Concert Chorale
  • Women’s Chorus
  • University Men’s Chorus
  • Collegium Musicum
  • Gospel Choir
  • University Band
  • Symphony Band
  • Wind Ensemble
  • Jazz Band
  • Symphony Orchestra
  • University Community Orchestra

The following Academic Music Courses are also offered:

  • Introduction to Classical Music
  • The Concert Experience
  • Introduction to World Musics
  • American Popular MusiC
  • Fundamentals of Music (Theory)
  • Class Voice
  • Beginning and Intermediate Guitar
  • Beginning and Intermediate Piano

Private music lessons are also offered to the non-music major under the following conditions:

  1. A successful audition placement into a recognized Music major ensemble.
  2. Successful audition placement will allow concurrent registration into an appropriate private performance lesson.
  3. Consent of instructor and availability of instructional time.
  4. For further information contact the Department of Music at (414) 229-5217.

Music Courses

Music Education Courses

Music Performance Courses

NameRankDegreeSchoolGraduate FacultyEmeritus Faculty
Elena Abend Senior Lecturer MM The Juilliard School No No
Beverly Belfer Senior Lecturer MM University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee No No
Barry Benjamin Professor BM No Yes
Efim Boico Professor Diploma No Yes
Jane Bowers Professor PhD No Yes
Mitchell Brauner Associate Professor PhD No Yes
James Burmeister Senior Lecturer, Interim Assistant Dean MM University of Michigan No No
John Climer Professor DMA University of Missouri - Kansas City Yes No
Jennifer Clippert Assosicate Professor DMA Northwestern University Yes No
Wayne Cook Professor MS No Yes
Scott Corely Senior Lecturer PhD University of Iowa No No
Margery Deutsch Professor MM No Yes
Zachary Durlam Assistant Professor DMA Michigan State University Yes No
William H. Duvall Jr Associate Professor MMA No Yes
Thomas Dvorak Professor MM No Yes
Scott Emmons Professor, Dean PhD Eastman School of Music Yes No
Valerie Errante Associate Professor DMA No Yes
Ralph Evans Professor DMA No Yes
Sheila Feay-Shaw Associate Professor PhD University of Washington Yes No
Gregory Flint Associate Professor BM Northwestern University No No
Robert Goodberg Professor MA No Yes
Curt Hanrahan Senior Lecturer MM University of Wisconsin - Madison No No
Gloria Hansen Senior Lecturer MM University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee No No
Sharon A. Hansen Professor DMA No Yes
Kevin Hartman Professor MM Northwestern University Yes No
William Heinriches Associate Professor PhD University of Iowa Yes No
Jerry Horner Professor MM No Yes
Rene Izquierdo Professor MM Yale University Yes No
Judit Jaimes Professor BM No Yes
Stefan Kartman Professor MM Juilliard School of Music Yes No
Jun Kim Associate Professor DMA University of Cincinnati Yes No
Tanya Kruse-Ruck Assosiate Professor MM University of Cincinnati Yes No
Abram Loft Distinguished Professor PhD No Yes
Franklin S. Miller Associate Professor PhD No Yes
Daniel Nelson Professor MM No Yes
Stephen Nelson-Raney Senior Lecturer MMEd No Yes
Tim Noonan Senior Lecturer PhD University of Wisconsin - Madison No No
Mary Pautz Associate Professor PhD No Yes
Jeffry Peterson Professor MM University of Illinois - Urbana No Yes
Gillian Rodger Professor PhD University of Pittsburgh Yes No
William R. Schmid Professor PhD No Yes
John Stropes Faculty Associate BS University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee No No
Gergoria Karides Suchy Professor MM No Yes
Robert K. Thompson Professor BM No Yes
Jon Welstead Professor, Chair PhD University of Iowa Yes No
Yehuda Yannay Professor DMA No Yes
Bernard Zinck Associate Professor MM The Juilliard School Yes No