Shepherd School of Music
About
At Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, we cultivate the mastery of musical performance, combining a conservatory experience with the educational opportunities of a leading research university. Guided by the belief that talent manifests along unique paths, we limit our student body to 275 uniquely gifted young musicians.
We give each music major access to world class teachers—all accomplished artists in their own right—dedicated to cultivating talent and professional success. Our faculty is known for their individualized instruction and for equipping musicians with the skills and experience necessary to develop their own esteemed careers.
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.
When Sallie Shepherd Perkins entered into an agreement with Rice University to endow the Shepherd School of Music, it was a realization of her lifelong dream and a testament to her love of music. Her gift laid the foundation from which one of the nation’s premier music schools has grown and flourished, preparing young musicians to succeed in the world of classical music and beyond.
"From its early days in the basement of Sewall Hall, the Shepherd School has developed into one of the premier music schools in America. As one of the founding faculty, I will outline the pre-history of the school from the initial gift of Sallie Shepherd Perkins to its actual opening in 1975 and go on to discuss the problems faced in the early years, the contributions of its deans, and the successes that have brought the school to its present outstanding reputation."