University of Kentucky School of Music

05/14/2026

Congratulations to our School of Music students who were honored at this year’s McCracken Awards ceremony sponsored by The Friends of the University of Kentucky School of Music as part of our celebration weekend last month🎶💙

04/15/2026

Registering for fall semester classes? Be sure to join Professor Paul Reich in MUS 350 section 003, “Classroom Bass Guitar for Beginners” on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 2-2:50pm🎸

04/02/2026

Check out this interview with Alaine Reschke-Hernandez on NPR! Dr. Reschke-Hernandez discusses her and her colleagues' research with dementia residents and caregivers.

For many Kentuckians with dementia, medical interventions may seem like the only choice, but a new University of Kentucky study shows that prioritizing joy and engagement through enrichment activities is vital for the health of both residents and the caregivers who support them. Researchers from the...

03/16/2026

Congratulations to our very own Dejah Watts on advancing to the finals of The Met Opera Laffont Competition! Dejah is one of ten finalists who will compete in the finals gala concert next week accompanied by The Met Opera Orchestra! Toi, Toi, Toi, Dejah!

Announcing the 2026 Laffont Competition Finalists! ✨

Sophia Baete, Mezzo-Soprano
Shannon Crowley, Soprano
Elizabeth Hanje, Soprano
Song Hee Lee, Soprano
Gabriel Natal- Báez, Baritone
Anna Thompson, Soprano
Gabrielle Turgeon, Soprano
Dejah Watts, Soprano
Robert Wente, Baritone
Shiyu Zhuo, Soprano

Natalie Powers/Met Opera

03/16/2026

We are excited to announce that Dr. Ryan Beeken will join the UK School of Music faculty as Director of Choirs! Dr. Beeken is currently a professor at Wichita State University and holds a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University. His choirs have performed at State, Regional, and National Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and for state and regional NAfME conferences. He is regularly engaged as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Congratulations, Dr. Beeken, and welcome to UK!

03/13/2026

Welcome to the UK School of Music Faculty, Alex Mondragon! Alex will be joining us as the Assistant Director of Bands starting in Fall 2026. He is currently a doctoral candidate in wind band conducting and serves as a graduate teaching assistant with the University of Illinois Bands. Congratulations and welcome to UK!

03/12/2026

Join us in welcoming Scott Leger to the UK School of Music faculty as our new Assistant Professor of Horn!
Professor Leger will be joining us in Fall 2026. He is a soloist, teacher, and orchestral horn player currently performing in the Louisville Orchestra as Associate Principal/Third Horn.
Check out his social media at .
Photo by .

03/03/2026

It’s March, so that’s means it’s time for another batch of Music Events happening at the and - Go Cats💙😺

02/19/2026

Join us on Monday, February 23rd in the Niles Gallery as we welcome UK School of Music alum and current Dean of Juilliard School Extension, John-Morgan Bush, graciously supported by the UK Friends of Music Distinguished Master Class Series! His talks will focus on his incredible career path, philanthropy & community engagement, and entrepreneurship. Free and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

02/13/2026

FREE EXHIBITION!
February 13th and 14th 10:00AM-8:00PM
Singletary Presidents Room
Violins of Hope is a rare collection of restored violins played by Jewish musicians who both survived and perished during the Holocaust. Each instrument carries its own unique and haunting story of survival, hope, and human resilience.

More than 40 instruments will be on display along with their individual stories. More than 20 of these instruments will be played by University of Kentucky students in an extraordinary concert on February 14. The concert is ticketed.
https://finearts.uky.edu/music/events/uk-symphony-orchestra-violins-hope-blue-cathedral-and-mahler-symphony-no-4