Students Honored at Annual Award Ceremony
The annual Mary Pappert School of Music Awards Ceremony is a celebration of artistry, discipline, and the vibrant creative spirit that defines our school’s community.
A Competitive Edge for a Creative Field
At the Mary Pappert School of Music, you are challenged to connect historical practices
with modern methods, blend the traditional with current technology, and explore your
artistry, creativity, and ingenuity to the fullest extent.
Train to become a board-certified music therapist, develop your craft as a music teacher, or make your mark on the stage and in the studio. View programs of study and start your journey today!
Regardless of the major you choose, you will work 1-on-1 with world-class faculty to develop your artistry and musicianship during weekly private lessons.
Train to become a board-certified music therapist, develop your craft as a music teacher, or make your mark on the stage and in the studio. View programs of study and start your journey today!
Regardless of the major you choose, you will work 1-on-1 with world-class faculty to develop your artistry and musicianship during weekly private lessons.
It's time for bigger goals!
In everything we do, we aim to promote community building and engagement into all operations of our school. We create cultural awareness and responsibility, develop strategies to address disparities, and respond to the changing needs of the MPSOM community while creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive culture of belonging.
You belong here.
Our Mission
The Mary Pappert School of Music provides musical education that connects the broad spectrum of historical and current practices; and in promoting the relationship between theory and practice, prepares professionals who will be the leaders in the musical culture of the 21st century.
Interested in music, but unsure of the best path forward?
Compose your own musical journey and explore multiple areas of interest through the Discover Music program! Work one-on-one with your Student Success Coach to map out your path to graduation while playing in ensembles and making music.
Discover & Explore Music
Why Study Music at Duquesne?
Work one-on-one with GRAMMY Award-winning faculty.
As a student at the Mary Pappert School of Music, you study with professors internationally acclaimed in their fields including members of the GRAMMY Award-winning Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. With a 4-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, you're certain to receive the personal attention necessary to truly perfect your talents, whether your career aspirations are to be in front of an audience, in the recording studio, or in a classroom, church, or therapy setting.
Customize your own path with flexible degrees & programs.
At the Mary Pappert School of Music, you have a wide variety of horizon-expanding music programs to choose from at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Perform with a wide variety of award-winning ensembles.
Duquesne's ensembles will provide you with the finest university-level performing experiences available, preparing you for your career as a professional musician.
Jeff Bush & Eric Susoeff, directors Join us for a five-day, hands-on camp for motivated high school trumpet, horn, trombone, euphonium, and tuba players. Spend the week sharpening brass fundamentals through daily labs, sectionals, and guided practice. Learn directly from the world-class Duquesne Brass Faculty in masterclasses and coac Enjoy activity-filled days rehearsing, performing, and learning about jazz, America's indigenous art form, in this informal, non-threatening environment. Play and learn alongside members of Duquesne University's jazz faculty, which is comprised of the best jazz musician-educators in the Pittsburgh a The Music Technology Summer Intensive is an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional recording and production environment with GRAMMY Award-winning faculty. Immerse yourself in the inner workings of the studio and its operation during a recording session and actively participate in Students and faculty of the Mary Pappert School of Music present over 200 annual concerts
and recitals. Most events are either free or $10 suggested donation. With the exception
of the Music on the Bluff series, anyone 17 years old and younger may attend any regular
admission concert free of charge. The Mary Pappert School of Music is proud to be the home of a very distinguished music
faculty, many of whom are members of local professional music organizations including
the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Theater Orchestras,
the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and the River City Brass Band. Each year, the Mary
Pappert School of Music presents several faculty recitals. In addition, the vast majority of our students present recitals as part of their degree
requirements each year. These recitals feature solo works, chamber works, and a wide
variety of musical styles and genres. As a student at the Mary Pappert School of Music, you study with professors internationally
acclaimed in their fields. Many of them, including those who are also members of the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, are GRAMMY Award-winning artists. Others have a variety
of other distinguished awards and accolades to their names. In addition to these fantastic musicians and teachers, you will have many opportunities
to learn from some of the world's finest performers, composers, educators, and therapists. The IEMMA Broadcast Network (IBN) is the video and radio simulcast division of the
Mary Pappert School of Music's Institute of Entertainment, Music, and Media Arts (IEMMA)
at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. The IBN provides both audio and video streaming.
Tempo Monthly is an email digest that is sent on the third Wednesday of each month,
showcasing the work of our incredibly talented students, faculty, and alumni, as well
as keeping you up-to-date with all the concerts and recitals we present.
The Mary Pappert School of Music archives some of its performances on YouTube. Check
out these fantastic videos featuring our incredibly talented students, faculty, and
internationally-known guest artists.
Upcoming Events
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Jazz Chamber Groups and Jazz Guitar Ensemble
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Summer Theatre Intensive
High school performers in grades 9–12 are warmly invited to join the CMC Summer Theatre Intensive! This immersive program provides young artists with the opportunity to develop their performance skills, refine audition material, and prepare for school, college, and professional opportunities.
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soundLab Workshop
You are invited to participate in an intensive, hands-on workshop held Monday–Friday, June 15–19, 2026 hosted primarily in the Electronics Labs on the second floor of Fisher Hall, with additional sessions in the soundLab at the Mary Pappert School of Music.
The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.
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Summer Brass Intensive
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Summer Jazz Experience
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Music Technology Summer Intensive
Concert Series & Admission Information
Music on the Bluff marks over 20 seasons as one of Pittsburgh’s most “truly memorable”
series, with a “stellar reputation.” Each Sunday afternoon concert includes a pre-concert
visit with Dean David Allen Wehr and his colleagues and a reception, where the audience
has a chance to visit with the artists. Concerts often sell out, so buying a season
ticket is the best way to secure your seats for all four concerts.
Music on the Bluff Series
The Mary Pappert School of Music is proud to present the Uptown Jazz Series, thanks, in part, to the generosity of the John R. Mattern Estate. These concerts
regularly feature a variety of jazz styles from jazz faculty and visiting artists/ensembles.
Founded by Professor Emeritus Mike Tomaro, this series has traditionally featured
some sort of common thread. In its first year, UJS consisted of a showcase of the
finest jazz performers and groups in Pittsburgh. Beginning with the 2022–2023 season,
the Uptown Jazz Series took on a more concert-by-concert thematic approach, with themes
including the history of jazz, retrospective concerts on influential jazz artists,
concerts featuring the works of local jazz legends, and explorations of the influences
that various types of media has had on jazz.
Uptown Jazz Series
Our school is home to a variety of large and small ensembles that perform music of
all styles and genres. With nearly 60 ensemble concerts each academic year, there
is something for everyone!Student Ensemble Concert Series
IEMMA Broadcast Network
Our audio station plays recordings of our students, faculty, and alumni 24/7.
In addition, we regularly present live video streams of select concerts throughout
the academic year. All concerts listed will be streamed live on the IBN webpage.
Tune in now!
Connect With Us
YouTube Channel
Follow Us on Social Media!
Contact Us
No matter what your musical interest, we have the faculty and resources to prepare you for a successful and fulfilling career in music and beyond.
Mary Pappert School of Music
News
Honoring Duquesne’s New Graduates
Commencement at Duquesne University is more than a series of ceremonies—it is a defining moment for the entire campus community.
Three Students Win Annual Voice Competition
On Saturday, March 28, 2026, eight voice majors competed for three prizes in the annual Marguerite DePhillips Dougherty Voice Competition.
MPSOM in the Community
City Music Center
Founded in 1989, City Music Center of Duquesne University (CMC) has proudly served as the Pittsburgh area's premier provider of musical instruction for students of all ages.
Hire a Musician
Duquesne University has many talented student and alumni musicians who can be hired for events such as weddings, worship services, receptions, dinners, business events, and concerts.
Music Alumni
At the Mary Pappert School of Music, we are immensely proud of our ever-growing alumni community. After graduation, we continue to assist our alumni in various ways.
Duquesne - Pittsburgh Connection
On a Friday night, after class, you can go with your friends and hear the Pittsburgh Symphony and it's only a short walk away. You get to see your teachers and the other faculty that you work with throughout the week—now it's your turn to watch them do their thing.
As one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic performance spaces, Carnegie Music Hall in Oakland possesses a rich history of famous artists who have graced its stage. From the Pittsburgh Symphony to groups like the Juilliard Quartet, the Duquesne Symphony Orchestra calls this space home, capitalizing on the rich, vibrant acoustics and architectural beauty of this renowned concert hall.
For jazz musicians, there’s no better experience than to get out and make music in a real gig situation, especially when you get to play next to your teacher or mentor. Pittsburgh has no shortage of opportunities for musicians, so I want to get our students out there gigging now so they can make the most of their time here at Duquesne.
Health, Wellness, and Safety for Musicians
Duquesne University and the Mary Pappert School of Music are committed to education
of the mind, heart and spirit of each student. We understand that physical health
and safety play a large role in that commitment, and as such, the following document
outlines recommendations specifically for musicians and their wellbeing.
We care about your health and wellbeing and have various resources available for you and all of our students!
Accreditation
Duquesne University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music.