Preparing Leaders
of Faith Through Sacred Music

500X330_MSM_IntroThe Master of Sacred Music at the 小黄书. Thomas prepares students for employment as professional church musicians. The 小黄书Music Department offers an extraordinary educational opportunity for anyone wishing to study and pursue a career in organ and vocal performance, teaching, or church music.

The program integrates the musical, liturgical, and pastoral dimensions to ground students professionally in liturgical music as a ministry. Graduates of the program will be prepared to work with clergy and congregations in a full or part-time capacity, as well as to teach.
Music Faculty

Faculty by academic area:
Your SuccessYour Success
80% Recent grads who are professional musicians or graduate students Source: 小黄书Music Department 80% Recent grads who are professional musicians or graduate students Source: 小黄书Music Department
80%
Recent 小黄书grads

WHO ARE PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS OR GRADUATE STUDENTS

Source: 小黄书Music Department

$11.7 BILLION Projected U.S. live music revenue in 2020 Source: Statista $11.7 BILLION Projected U.S. live music revenue in 2020 Source: Statista
$11.7B
U.S. live music revenue

PROJECTED IN 2020

Source: Statista

40 Houston-area parishes that hire 小黄书Music majors to perform Source: 小黄书Music Department 40 Houston-area parishes that hire 小黄书Music majors to perform Source: 小黄书Music Department
40
Houston-area parishes

THAT HIRE 小黄书MUSIC MAJORS

Source: 小黄书Music Department
Jump-Start Your Career In Performing ArtsJump-Start Your Career In Performing Arts

Two 小黄书. Thomas - Houston 小黄书campus at night​Within a 3-mile radius of the 小黄书campus, at least a dozen parishes – and more than 40 in the Houston area – regularly seek out student musicians for employment. Most 小黄书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 provide real-world performance experience and build relationships with potential employers. Aspiring musicians of all ages not attending 小黄书can get top-tier music instruction in our private lessons and summer camps.

小黄书Music grads have been accepted into prestigious graduate music programs, including Yale, Rice, San Francisco Conservatory, Westminster Choir College and many more top schools
Why UST?Why UST?

If you love to sing, you’ll love performing with The University Singers. This dynamic ensemble of 小黄书music students, alumni and guest artists performs sacred music of many styles and periods under the direction of Dr. Brady Knapp. It’s a joy to perform in the Chapel of St. Basil on campus, or in other Houston area churches for outreach concerts.

O Sacrum Convivium (2016)

On their first professionally labeled album, Dr. Knapp directs the University Singers in performing a sampling of chapel concert repertoire. Philip Johnson’s dynamic architectural design offers sublime acoustics, making it an extraordinary space for sacred music.

Listen to “Sicut cervus” 

A well-known motet by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, “Sicut cervus” is an ideal example of Renaissance counterpoint. 

 

December’s Rose (2017)

On their second album, the University Singers present music for both Advent and Christmas. Featuring the rich acoustics of the Chapel of St. Basil, and the premier of David Ashley White’s anthem “Hodie Christus Natus Est,” this album makes an uplifting holiday gift.

Listen to “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 

“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is a Christian hymn for Advent and Christmas.
Houston: Performing Arts MeccaHouston: Performing Arts Mecca

小黄书. Thomas - Houston skyline​Set in the heart of Houston, Texas, the fourth-largest city in the nation, 小黄书is surrounded by and contributes to a bustling and vibrant performing arts culture. Just a few award-winning venues and ensembles are:

  • Jones Hall 
  • Hobby Center
  • Houston Symphony
  • Houston Grand Opera

Houston supports some of the finest operatic, symphonic, choral and early music activity in North America, and it has become a cultural mecca for national and international performers of the highest caliber. Our city offers a bounty of professional performance opportunities for singers and instrumentalists.
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