Master of Sacred Music
Prepare to lead sacred and liturgical music in Houston
About the Program
Guide Parish Liturgical Music
The Master of Sacred Music at the University of St. Thomas prepares musicians for service in churches and other places of worship. In Houston, you can deepen your performance skills while studying how music supports liturgy, faith, and pastoral ministry. The program is designed for those pursuing work in church music, organ or vocal performance, and music teaching.
What You Will Study
Build Musical, Liturgical, and Pastoral Skills
The 32-credit-hour Master of Sacred Music combines liturgical studies, sacred and choral music, and practical training. Coursework includes conducting, diction, the singing voice, and a practicum. Students also complete applied voice or keyboard lessons and select an elective in an area such as chant, children’s choirs, sacred choral literature, or organ literature.
Student Experience
Put Your Music into Practice
Develop your skills through applied lessons and a practicum that connect graduate study with the work of a church musician. The program brings together musical preparation and an understanding of liturgy so you can approach sacred music as both an art and a ministry.
Apply to the Master of Sacred Music Program
Application Requirements
To begin your application, submit the materials listed below.
- A completed application
- Official transcripts from previously attended institutions
- Two recommendations: one from a clergy member and one from a professional musician
- A 250–300 word personal statement about your musical background, your interest in the MSM program, and the role of faith and music in your life
- A current performance résumé
- An audition with Music Department faculty on your chosen instrument
Bachelor’s Degree in Music
If the bachelor’s degree is in a discipline other than music, the applicant must supply a letter from a priest or music director verifying at least two years of music experience.
Applicants without a Bachelor of Music must complete a rudimentary theory exam. Remedial theory and aural skills can be required for those who do not pass the exam.
Career Opportunities
Prepare for Work in Church Music
Within a 3-mile radius of the UST campus, at least a dozen parishes – and more than 40 in the Houston area – regularly seek out musicians for employment. Many UST Music majors are employed part-time as singers or instrumentalists in:
- Traditional Roman Catholic, Anglo-Catholic, and Protestant church choirs
- Jewish temple choirs
- Places of worship that feature orchestral music and contemporary bands
These early career opportunities not only improve your musical and performance skills, but also provide real-world performance experience and build relationships with potential employers. Aspiring musicians of all ages not attending UST can receive top-tier music instruction in our Music Preparatory School private lessons and summer camps.
UST Music grads have been accepted into prestigious graduate music programs, including Yale, Rice, San Francisco Conservatory, Westminster Choir College, and many more top schools.
Learn from UST Music Faculty
Music
Michael Richardson, Ph.D.
Michael S. Richardson teaches music history, theory, and appreciation at the University of St. Thomas and directs the Schola Cantorum Gregorian Chant choir. His research focuses on European opera and the ways later composers drew on folk and medieval music. A UST alumnus, he holds a master’s degree in music from Rice University and a Ph.D. in Music History and Theory from Stony Brook University.
Why Music at UST?
Study Sacred Music in a Community of Faith
At the University of St. Thomas, graduate study in sacred music connects artistic development with liturgical and pastoral preparation. Applied instruction, coursework, and practical experience help you grow as a musician while preparing to serve the communities that gather around worship. Study in Houston at a university where faith and learning are central to the educational experience.