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School of Music

College of Arts and Sciences

The School of Music at Indiana State University, a school with a long-standing tradition of excellence in the training of musicians for a variety of professional pursuits.

Welcome

Welcome to the School of Music at Indiana State University, a school with a long-standing tradition of excellence in the training of musicians for a variety of professional pursuits. Indiana State music graduates have distinguished themselves in a variety of ways. Many are outstanding teachers in public schools, colleges/universities and private studios while others have achieved recognition in such specialized areas as music business and performance. The music faculty, a community of scholars, performers and teachers, share an uncommonly strong commitment to their students in the school.

59th Annual Contemporary Music Festival

CMF 2025, composer Damien Geter

The School of Music is thrilled to welcome composer and ISU alum Damien Geter back to campus as the guest composer for the 59th Annual Contemporary Music Festival.  The festival will take place October 22-24 and will feature Mr. Geter and numerous guest composers and performers.   More information will be available on the festival website in coming weeks.

Welcome to our New Faculty 

Sean Phelan

Sean Phelan joins Indiana State University this fall as Visiting Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands. A native of Waukesha, WI, he holds a master's degree in conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music as well as a bachelor's in music education and mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Previously, Phelan was the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and Spirit Groups at the University of Houston and the Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Minnesota Duluth, overseeing or assisting with marching, pep, and concert bands and courses in conducting, arranging, and music education. Prior to that, he taught at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, TX where he led the Hawk Band to appearances in the finals of the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional Championship and in the Texas UIL State Marching Contest, and also served as Director of Orchestras and Associate Director of Bands at Oconomowoc High School in Wisconsin. 

Jacob Hardy

Jacob Hardy joins the School of Music as Instructor of Trombone.  He is currently pursuing his Doctoral of Music degree at Indiana University, with specializations in tenor and bass trombone, music theory, and arts administration. He is also a member of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra and Jackson Symphony as bass trombone. Before beginning his doctoral studies, Jacob worked as a freelance musician in Florida, where he taught at the Community Music Conservatory for the Reilly Arts Center in Ocala, FL, performed as a member of the Ocala Symphony and Gainesville Orchestra, maintained a private studio of middle and high school students, and performed as a guest trombonist with many professional orchestras such as the Florida Orchestra and Naples Philharmonic. Internationally, Jacob performed in recital at the 2023 Trombonanza in Santa Fe, Argentina and in concert at the 2019 Fête de la musique at la Êglise de la Madeleine, Paris, France, and Les Anches d'Azur Music Festival, La Croix- Valmer, France.

2025 Concerto Competition

Congratulations to all of the students who performed on the 2025 School of Music Concerto Competition, and especially to this year’s three winners (in alphabetical order): Clare Dillon, piccolo; Ashton Fowler, saxophone; and Alicia Kessler, cello! Thanks to judges Donna Clark and Scotty Stepp, to Dr. Yana Weinstein who coordinated the competition, and to each and every student for their hard work and excellent performances. Winners will perform with the University Symphony and Wind Orchestra during the fall semester.

Concerto Competition Announcement

Mission Statement

The mission of the School of Music at Indiana State University is to prepare students for careers and continued study in music education, music business, performance, and music as a liberal art. Recognized for its long history of training music educators and members of the music business community, the school offers a range of undergraduate degrees in a personalized environment. We provide experiential learning opportunities, develop life-long learning skills, and foster cultural engagement and international exchange. The school promotes awareness and appreciation of the musical arts through courses for all university students and serves as a cultural resource for the university, local community, and the state through outreach, special events, and public performances.

The Indiana State University School of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music.