Mary Pappert School of Music

Updated on Jan 11, 2024

Edit

Comment

Type Private Phone +1 412-396-6080 Parent institution Duquesne University		Established 1926 Founded 1926

Location Pittsburgh, PA, United States Website http://www.duq.edu/academics/schools/music Address 1128 Locust St, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA Similar Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon School of, Ithaca College School of, Cleveland Institute of Music, University of Pittsburg Profiles Facebook

Duquesne university an urban campus

The Mary Pappert School of Music is one of the ten degree-granting divisions that comprise Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

History

The Pappert School of Music was founded in 1926, offering a Bachelor of Music degree. The Bachelor in Music Education program was added in 1930. The building which houses the school was dedicated on 29 April 1967. To commemorate the event, eminent pianist Van Cliburn was awarded an honorary degree. The school has been NASM-accredited since 1966. The School of Music became an all-Steinway institution in 2001 and is also an "all-Fender" school.

The current collegiate enrollment is approximately 350, and there are about 500 non-credit music students studying in the City Music Center, an elementary through high school program hosted by the school which was founded in 1989.

Programs offered

The School of Music confers four different bachelor degrees, in Performance, Music Technology, Music Education, and Music Therapy. Graduate programs include master degrees in Performance, Theory/Composition, Sacred Music, Music Technology, and Music Education, as well as an Artist Diploma. In addition to undergraduate and graduate programs, post-baccalaureate certification is offered in Music Education and Music Therapy.

Award Winning Ensembles

The Mary Pappert School of Music offers the following large ensembles:

Symphony Orchestra

Wind Symphony

Symphony Band

The Voices of Spirit

Men's Chorale

Jazz Ensemble

Additionally, all university students interested in music are invited to perform with the Dukes Pep Band at football and basketball games.

Notable faculty

Ann Labounsky, Organ

Claudia Pinza, Voice

David Allen Wehr, Piano, Distinguished Professor

Marylene Gingras-Roy, Viola

Adam Liu, Cello

Jeffrey Turner, Double Bass and Director of Orchestral Activities

Gretchen van Hoesen, Harp

Damian Bursill-Hall, Flute

Rhian Kenny, Flute

Jenny Connor, Flute

Ron Samuels, Clarinet

George Vosburgh, Trumpet

James Nova, Trombone

Murray Crewe, Bass Trombone

James Houlik, Classical Saxophone and Performance Chair

David Stock, Composer-in-Residence

Patrick Burke, Composition

David Cutler, Director of Musicianship

Mike Tomaro, Jazz Composition/Arranging and Director of Jazz Studies

Joseph Willcox Jenkins †, Composition

Sean Jones, Jazz Trumpet

Joe Negri, Jazz Guitar

(† deceased)

Notable Alumni

Van Cliburn - (honorary)

Joseph Carl Breil – The first person to compose a score specifically for a motion picture

Gene Forrell – Composer and conductor

Sammy Nestico – Prolific and well-known composer and arranger of big band music

William Schultz (1950) – President and CEO of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

Bobby Vinton (graduated 1956; honorary Doctorate in Music in 1978) – "The Polish Prince"; called the all-time most successful love singer of the Rock era.

Michael Bross – Music composer on popular video games (Oddworld, Ratchet and Clank, etc.).

H. Robert Reynolds, conductor (honorary)

Chad Winkler, 4th trumpet, PSO