The Music Department at Texas Woman’s University will develop your appreciation and understanding of the arts.
Music study at TWU has a long and distinguished history. TWU established the first university level department of music in the state of Texas in 1915. TWU also established one of the first music therapy majors in the country in 1953. TWU has been fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) since 1958, and the music therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA.)
Margo Jones Performance Hall is the primary performance facility for the Department of Music. This beautiful hall has excellent acoustics and a seating capacity of 1,074. Located in the Music Building, Margo Jones Performance hall was originally built in the 1920's, and was the premier theatre in North Texas. Artists such as John Phillip Sousa, Isaac Stern, Vladimir Horowitz, Lily Pons, Robert Frost, Yehudi Menuhin, and others came to Texas Woman's University to perform in the facility.
In 1987 the Hall was closed for a $3.5 million renovation that was completed in April 1990. Renovated features of the Hall include new lighting, motorized rigging, new sound systems and a stage floor constructed on a cushioned rubber mounting.
The 1,074 seat Margo Jones Performance Hall features orchestral level seating of 812 total seats and balcony seating of 262 total seats. This state-of-the-art performance facility enhances our music, drama and dance productions. It boasts an 85-rank, 4-manual Redman organ plus both Bösendorfer and Steinway concert grand pianos.
The Margo Jones Performance Hall provides students, faculty and professional artists outstanding facilities for a variety of creative events.
In addition to the numerous concerts featured here throughout the year, the hall is also a venue for other noteworthy events including official university ceremonies, guest lectures, and fashion productions.
The mission of the Department of Music at Texas Woman’s University is to develop in students an appreciation and understanding of the arts as expressions of personal and cultural experience, to provide a liberal arts-based program of study that balances tradition and innovation and values diverse approaches to making, performing, and researching music, and to prepare individuals for professional work, leadership, and service in music education, music pedagogy, music performance, and music therapy.
Goals:
• To develop in students an appreciation and understanding of music as an expression of personal and cultural experience and to prepare individuals for professional work, leadership, and service in music education, music pedagogy, music performance, and music therapy;
• To provide a liberal arts-based program of study that balances tradition and innovation and values diverse approaches to making, performing, and researching music;
• To provide a collaborative teaching/learning environment that encourages a diverse student population to develop meaningful interactions across the arts disciplines;
• To provide arts courses and experiences designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to understand and appreciate the arts;
• To enhance the cultural life of the community through exhibitions, performances, and programs designed to promote engagement with the arts.
Music study at TWU has a long and distinguished history. Our department has been fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1958, and our music therapy program is approved by the American Music Therapy Association.
While pursuing your undergraduate or graduate degree in music at TWU, you will benefit from:
-Specialized faculty mentors who are invested in your success.
-Vocal and instrumental ensemble opportunities.
-Small class sizes.
-State-of-the-art facilities.
-Active student organizations.
-Concerts and performances featuring faculty, students and guests.
-Travel and study abroad opportunities.
-A wide variety of scholarships.
-Graduate assistantships.
-Distinguished alumni networks in your field.
