Moores School of Music

Moores School of Music The University of Houston’s Moores School of Music (MSM) is one of the leading comprehensive music

The Texas Music Festival is off to a fantastic start as our students have finished their first week of study and perform...
06/05/2026

The Texas Music Festival is off to a fantastic start as our students have finished their first week of study and performances. 🎉

Here are the exciting concerts you can look forward to during TMF Week #2!

✨New faculty announcement!✨ We are so excited to introduce Ben Carroll, our new Professor of Practice in Horn at the Moo...
06/04/2026

✨New faculty announcement!✨

We are so excited to introduce Ben Carroll, our new Professor of Practice in Horn at the Moores School of Music!

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Ben Carroll is an award-winning hornist and music educator based in Dallas, Texas. He currently performs as 2nd horn in the Plano Symphony Orchestra, Principal horn of the McKinney Philharmonic Orchestra, and 3rd horn in the Irving Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Ben has worked with a variety of esteemed ensembles, including the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Dallas Chamber Symphony, and Dallas Winds. Ben has also made Festival appearances in the Cactus Pear Music Festival, Taoyuan Band Festival, Hot Springs Music Festival, and Miami Music Festival.

As a dedicated mentor, Ben is committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. He is Adjunct Instructor of Music for Horn at Texas Woman’s University and a Teaching Fellow at University of North Texas. In the summer, Ben serves on the brass instructional staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard, a renowned drum and bugle corps based in Santa Clara, California.

A Texan through and through, Ben earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Pat Hughes. He currently studies with Dr. Stacie Mickens at University of North Texas, where he is completing his Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.).

🎉 Congratulations to current MSM student Nathan Vilhena K**k! 🎉Clarinetist Nathan Vilhena K**k was selected from more th...
06/04/2026

🎉 Congratulations to current MSM student Nathan Vilhena K**k! 🎉

Clarinetist Nathan Vilhena K**k was selected from more than 450 applicants to study and perform alongside world‑renowned musicians at the Sarasota Music Festival, held June 1–13.

Ranked alongside Aspen and Tanglewood, the Sarasota Music Festival is one of the nation’s most selective classical training programs. Past Fellows have gone on to hold concertmaster and principal positions with major American orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan is among just 40 college‑age musicians chosen through a rigorous audition process to perform side‑by‑side with faculty in orchestral and chamber settings—gaining invaluable insight into the artistry and professionalism of today’s leading classical performers.

👏 Way to go, Nathan!

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Hailing from Laredo, Texas, Nathan Vilhena K**k is a multifaceted musician and educator dedicated to performance, pedagogy, and interdisciplinary collaboration. A Doctor of Musical Arts student at the University of Houston, Nathan studies with Yevgeny Dokshansky and serves as a Cindy Mitchell Scholar in convergence research.
Nathan holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of North Texas and has appeared as guest principal with the Chautauqua and Rockford Symphony Orchestras. Additional performance credits include the New World Symphony, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Chicago Sinfonietta, and Elgin Symphony Orchestra. Nathan is also featured on Stacy Garrop’s oratorio Terra Nostra.
Honors include finalist recognition in the International Clarinet Association Young Artists Competition and an artist grant from Stagetime. A passionate educator, Nathan has taught throughout Illinois and Texas and has been published by the Texas Music Educators Association. Outside of music, interests include dancing and gymnastics.

Previously an Affiliate Artist, we are SO excited to announce that Brent Phillips will be our new Professor of Practice ...
06/01/2026

Previously an Affiliate Artist, we are SO excited to announce that Brent Phillips will be our new Professor of Practice in Trombone this upcoming school year! ✨

Congratulations, Mr. Phillips!! 🎉

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A highly accomplished trombonist, Brent Phillips brings a wealth of knowledge, exceptional performance, creative innovation, and pedagogical expertise to his craft. His extensive experience includes performing with renowned orchestras such as the Dallas Symphony, Houston Symphony, and Houston Grand Opera. He holds the position of principal trombone with the Abilene Philharmonic and Waco Symphony Orchestra. He was assistant principal trombone and soloist with the historic “President’s Own” United States Marine Band, and served for 20 years as a faculty member at Baylor University.

Mr. Phillips is a faculty member at the Round Top Festival Institute since 2012 and has continues to solo and perform each summer on Festival Hill in Round Top. An active recitalist, clinician, and adjudicator, Mr. Phillips is a highly sought-after musician who has been a featured artist at every major conference and workshop in the trombone discipline.

Mr. Phillips’ acclaimed work can be heard on three solo albums, four chamber music albums, and two recordings with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Japp van Zweden. His performances have taken him on national and international tours with the Dallas Symphony, U.S. Marine Band, Baylor Brass, and Stentorian Consort.

The impact of Mr. Phillips’s teaching is evident in the success of his students. Many of his students have secured prestigious positions in U.S. orchestras and hold teaching posts at major universities. Their continued success in orchestral jobs and their consistent placement in national and international solo and chamber competitions attest to Mr. Phillips’s exceptional pedagogical skills and his ability to nurture the next generation of talented musicians.

Mr. Phillips is a founder and the director of the Mountain Light Music Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO. The annual summer festival is the synthesis of years of teaching, pedagogy, creative programing, and networking, combined with his lifelong love of wilderness.

The first week of the Texas Music Festival is almost here! 🎉Check out what exciting events are kicking off our 2026 seas...
05/29/2026

The first week of the Texas Music Festival is almost here! 🎉Check out what exciting events are kicking off our 2026 season!

🎼 Floyd on FloydThe June issue of Opera Magazine celebrates the centennial of Carlisle Floyd with an in-depth retrospect...
05/27/2026

🎼 Floyd on Floyd

The June issue of Opera Magazine celebrates the centennial of Carlisle Floyd with an in-depth retrospective by Rebecca Paller—exploring the composer’s unmistakable American voice, his landmark operas, and his enduring legacy at Houston Grand Opera and beyond.

🔗 Link in bio

You will be incredibly missed 🕊️✨Limmie graced the Moores Opera House stage just over a year ago in an unforgettable co...
05/21/2026

You will be incredibly missed 🕊️✨

Limmie graced the Moores Opera House stage just over a year ago in an unforgettable concert production of Turandot. His powerful voice filled space with both strength and beauty, and his rendering of “Nessun dorma” soared - ringing with brilliance, passion and a triumphant hope that stays with you long after the final note.

Thank you for sharing your gift with us, Limmie. 💕

Address

3333 Cullen Boulevard
Houston, TX
77204

Telephone

+17137433009

Website

https://www.mfah.org/events/concert-rienzi-recital-matthew-dirst/202605011930?returnUrl=%

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