Welcome to the
School of Music
Discover, Create, Lead
The LSU School of Music offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive music programs and serves as a cultural arts center for the state of Louisiana. Here, you’ll learn from acclaimed, expert faculty, as well as a world-renowned network of visiting artists who are innovators in their fields.
Welcome from the Director
Let me tell you about a thing I am passionate about—the LSU School of Music. We are home to 430 music majors (including 90 graduate teaching assistants), 80 faculty and professional staff, and one Tiger named Mike on a campus of a flagship, Research I university. This makes us a compelling destination for a higher education in music.
But what do the numbers and designations mean, really? Well… they mean that our campus community is one of unique, varied, and high-caliber opportunities that shape students’ experiences and contribute to their career development. There is the historic Turner-Fischer Center for Opera, the venerable Golden Band from Tigerland, the Constantinides New Music Ensemble, the Manship Guest Artist Series, and the boundary-pushing Experimental Music & Digital Media Program. In 2025-2026 alone, two ensembles received invitations to perform at international conferences—Tiger Glee Club at the national Collegiate Choral Conference in Fullerton, CA and the Percussion Ensemble at PASIC in Indianapolis. There are one-of-a-kind programs, such as Conductor's Art Workshop, High Shcool Choral Festival, Louisiana Bass Festival, Composers Forum, Music Forum, and, in 2026-2027, recitals by and residencies with violinist Yevgeny Kutik, saxophonist Timothy McAllister, musical theatre pedagoge Matthewe Edwards, the Horszowsky Trio, the Kenari Quartet, and two New York City-based new music groups, TAK Ensemble and Unheard Of.
Importantly, we are a distinctive faculty, a collective of eminent and versatile musicians, teachers, and researchers who enjoy working together. In what could possibly be your School of Music, you will experience a determined, thriving, and invigorating culture “Like no other” because your presence in that culture will make us unique. Your presence will be acknowledged. Your presence will change us.
We acknowledge the richness of a college education that derives from the quality of the day-to-day experience, underpinned by the unchanging fundamental principles of teaching and learning in a setting steeped in music making. You will acquire knowledge and develop skill, of course, but beyond that, our faculty will help you find your strengths as well as the gaps in your preparation, and they will work with you to confront the inevitable ambiguity and uncertainty that characterize the process of getting ready for life after college.
For more context, I hope you will visit the People sections on this website to meet our faculty, contact our Recruiting Coordinator in the Office of Student Success, or reach out to me. We would enjoy talking with you.
James Byo
Director of the School of Music
Carl Prince Matthies Memorial Professor of Music Education
Moments in Music
The LSU School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Tyler Bourque as Instructor of Clarinet, joining the faculty for the 2026–2027 school year.
The LSU School of Music is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Courtney Crouse as Associate Professor and the Janice Harvey Pellar Endowed Chair of Voice.
The LSU School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gregory Smith as Professional-in-Residence in Collaborative Piano at the LSU School of Music.
The LSU College of Music & Dramatic Arts is pleased to announce that Dr. John Madere will join the School of Music faculty this August as Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies & Bass.
The LSU School of Music is thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr. Katey Jahnke (yahn-kee) as Assistant Professor of Horn, joining the faculty for the 2026–2027 school year.
From nationally competitive performance awards and coveted summer appointments to a featured performance invitation at one of North America's most prestigious saxophone conferences, LSU's saxophone studio has been making its mark.
Upcoming Concerts & Events
Looking for more events? Browse the full School of Music calendar here.
LSU Cares
LSU Cares is a university initiative dedicated to the well-being of students and promotion of a community that cares about each of its members. Using a CARE (Communicate, Assess, Refer, Educate) approach, staff review reports and provide appropriate resources in response. LSU Cares works with students to empower them to help students of concern and engage with victim support and advocacy resources.
The LSU School of Music is proud to support Kids' Orchestra, a 501(c)3 organization building a community of creative and engaged students through music education in East Baton Rouge Parish.
As an El Sistema-inspired organization, Kids' Orchestra has adopted the guiding philosophy that music education can create great musicians and positively change the life trajectory of children in a given community. The organization works closely with our students and our school to provide elementary-age children with the opportunity to study music, learn an instrument, and practice the art of performance.
Become Part of the Magic
