For 100 years, Duquesne University's music school, now known as the Mary Pappert School
of Music, has been shaping musicians who are professionals and leaders in musical
culture. What began in 1926 as a small but ambitious program has grown into a vibrant
community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, all connected by a shared belief
in music as both an art and a calling. From rehearsal rooms to concert halls, classrooms
to the healthcare settings, and recording studios to places of worship, learning here
has always been rooted in care, discipline, and the idea that musical excellence and
a desire to help others leads the way to success.
Today, the Mary Pappert School of Music stands as a place where students are challenged
to connect historical practices with modern methods, blend the traditional with current
technology, and explore their artistry, creativity, and ingenuity to the fullest extent.
They are guided by dedicated and decorated faculty, challenged to explore new ideas,
and encouraged to find their own voice within a supportive community.
The Celebration
In 2026, the Mary Pappert School of Music will celebrate its centennial with a series
of concerts, workshops, and special events honoring a century of artistic excellence,
education, and impact. Throughout the celebration, we will welcome world-famous alumni
and distinguished guest artists back to campus. These events will highlight the school’s
rich history while also looking forward, showcasing the creativity, innovation, and
collaborative spirit that continue to define the Mary Pappert School of Music. Together,
these Centennial festivities will celebrate not only where we have been, but the vibrant
future we are shaping through music.
Celebrating 100 Years of Music
For a century, the Mary Pappert School of Music has been shaped by the people, stories,
and music that make our community extraordinary. As we celebrate this milestone, three
special Centennial initiatives invite us to reflect on the memories we've made, honor
the legacy we've built together, and create something meaningful that will inspire
generations of musicians to come.
The Time Capsule
As part of the Centennial Celebration, the Mary Pappert School of Music is creating
a Time Capsule to preserve the stories, memories, and experiences of its community.
Students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are invited to share reflections, favorite
memories, and words for future musicians. Please consider sharing anything meaningful
to you!
Throughout the Centennial year, students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends are
invited to sign a unique commemorative piano and become part of the Mary Pappert School
of Music's history. The piano will travel to special Centennial events, providing
opportunities to leave your signature on this one-of-a-kind instrument. It will be
permanently installed in the third-floor lobby, remaining fully functional and playable.
The Commission
The Mary Pappert School of Music and the River City Brass Band co-commissioned alumnus
Todd Goodman (M.M. Composition, 2006) to compose a new work for wind ensemble and
chorus in honor of the Centennial. "Merry Merry" will be performed at Christmas at
Duquesne by the Wind Symphony and Choirs on December 6, 2026.
We know that life gets busy and that staying connected isn’t always easy, but we’d
love to hear where your journey has taken you! As we celebrate our Centennial, we
invite you to share your story with us so we can celebrate your achievements, reconnect
you with fellow alumni, and inspire the next generation of musicians who will follow
in your footsteps. All you have to do is tell us a little about yourself, and we’ll
take care of the rest. After all, your story is part of our story, and it’s one worth
sharing.
For 100 years, Duquesne University’s Mary Pappert School of Music has prepared musicians
to lead with artistry, purpose and impact. Guided by dedicated faculty and strengthened
by generations of alumni, the School continues to adapt for a changing world—shaping
performers, educators, therapists, composers, technologists, ministers and leaders
who bring music into concert halls, classrooms, studios, health care settings, communities
and places of worship. As we celebrate this Centennial, alumni, donors, and friends
are invited to help carry this legacy forward and support the next century of Duquesne
musicians.
Your support can help students:
Learn through scholarships, one-on-one instruction, and access to exceptional faculty and
renowned guest artists/lecturers.
Perform through recitals, ensemble concerts, and master class experiences.
Serve through music education, therapy, ministry, and community engagement.
Create through composition, technology, recording, and new approaches to musical expression.
Make a Centennial gift today and help ensure Duquesne musicians continue to bring
artistry, purpose, and impact into the world.
Support the Next Century of Music
Give $100 in honor of 100 years—or choose the gift that is meaningful to
you—and help keep the music moving forward.
Join us for our annual Christmas concert, featuring a festive mix of holiday favorites, imaginative arrangements, and seasonal music performed by our Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Pappert Chorale, and Voices of Spirit. Highlights include music from The Polar Express, selections from Ellington's jazz
Join us for our annual Christmas concert, featuring a festive mix of holiday favorites, imaginative arrangements, and seasonal music performed by our Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Pappert Chorale, and Voices of Spirit. Highlights include music from The Polar Express, selections from Ellington's jazz
The Mary Pappert School of Music traces its roots to 1926, when Duquesne University
formally established a school dedicated to the study and performance of music. From
the beginning, the goal was aligned with the University's mission to serve God by
serving students. In practice, the School of Music has always prepared musicians not
only to perform well, but to think deeply, teach thoughtfully, and serve their communities
through music. In the school’s earliest years, students pursued the Bachelor of Music
degree while the program continued to grow in scope and ambition. Graduate study followed
soon after, reflecting an early commitment to advanced musical training and professional
preparation that remains central today.
1967–2026
The Music Department was originally a part of the College of Arts, then located in
the basement of Old Main. Following a couple building moves, and as enrollment and
offerings expanded, the school needed space to grow. In 1967, Duquesne dedicated the
building that continues to house the Mary Pappert School of Music, a former U.S. Post
Office garage which was then called the "Robinson Building." This established a permanent
home for classrooms, studios, rehearsal spaces, and performance halls. In 1966—just
prior to the dedication of the new building—the School earned accreditation from the
National Association of Schools of Music, affirming the strength of its curriculum
and the quality of its faculty. Together, these milestones marked an important moment
in the School’s development, positioning it as a respected center for music study
within the University and beyond.
2026 and Beyond
The Mary Pappert School of Music continues to offer a wide range of undergraduate,
graduate, and certificate programs designed to prepare students for meaningful, sustainable
careers in music. Students study performance, music education, music therapy, composition,
and music technology, combining rigorous academic work with hands-on experience. Across
all programs, the focus is on close faculty mentorship, real-world application, and
developing musicians who are prepared to lead, collaborate, and serve through their
art.
Celebrating a Milestone
As the we look toward the next 100 years, the focus remains on the people who carry
the work forward. Alumni are performing, teaching, recording, producing, researching,
healing, and leading in communities across the country and around the world, building
meaningful careers shaped by the skills and values developed right here on the Bluff.
With a continued commitment to student success, artistic growth, and service through
music, the 2026–2027 academic year will be a celebration of the last century and a
symbol of a commitment to the next chapter of educating musicians who are ready not
only to reach their bigger goals, but to make a lasting impact in their communities
and around the globe.
