Music and Theatre Arts at St. Mary’s
The Department of Music and Theatre Arts at St. Mary’s University dynamically combines music and drama programs, providing a strong artistic foundation that celebrates and nurtures creativity through musical performance and theatrical expression. We offer students a transformative experience through musical and theatrical traditions, engaging the audience and cultivating aesthetic awareness in the community. Through professional training, scholarship and performance, our academic offerings expose students to music and theatrical arts impacting their lives, inspiring them to be teachers and performers to go on to pursue graduate and doctoral degrees.
Exceptional Classroom Experiences
Amazon Prime’s The College Tour is a TV series, hosted by Alex Boylan, that tells the story of a single college through the lens of its students. Alex interviewed Savannah Palmer, a St. Mary’s music education major and flautist, who dreams of becoming a high school band director.
Scholarships and Auditions
Music Scholarships and Auditions
The St. Mary’s University Department of Music and Theatre Arts is excited to welcome you to our annual Scholarship Auditions! Whether you’re a vocalist, instrumentalist, composer or music enthusiast, we invite you to audition and showcase your exceptional musical abilities.
This is your chance to shine and potentially receive financial support to further your musical education.
Music
Vocal Music Major
The Vocal Music program at St. Mary’s University focuses on helping students achieve their highest level of musicianship as performers.
Voice students train rigorously on specific aspects of performance through work in the opera workshop, diction, conducting and vocal pedagogy courses.
Instrumental Music Major
The Instrumental Music program focuses on helping students achieve their highest level of musicianship as performers.
Instrumental Music majors focus on private study with St. Mary’s University world-renowned instrumental faculty members, as well as performances in the high-quality ensembles on campus.
Theatre Arts
StMU Theatre
What is learned and gleaned from Drama courses is realized through our resident company, StMU Theatre. It is through our artistic dynamic of what happens between master and apprentice that cultivates those magical moments with an audience.
Drama Minor
St. Mary’s University believes a minor is essential to broaden one’s exposure and skill set for their career. Many majors allow enough hours to pursue a Drama minor.
Students acquire theatrical knowledge and applications that enhance their ability to engage, adapt and contribute to the ever-changing human condition.
Events
Fiesta Jazz Festival
For more than 50 years, St. Mary’s has hosted the annual Fiesta Jazz Festival Band Concert and Band Festival on campus. Renowned local, regional and national jazz musicians come to the University, where they perform for the St. Mary’s and San Antonio communities. The Band Festival is where area high schools and middle school students are critiqued and compete for trophies. Honor Band recipients are selected from these groups. Clinics and the chance to see award-winning musicians are enjoyed by all in attendance.
Low Brass Day
The annual St. Mary’s University Low Brass Day is dedicated to advancing high school students on trombone, bass trombone, euphonium and tuba and preparing for the upcoming Texas All-State auditions.
More Events
The St. Mary’s Department of Music and Theatre Arts hosts a number of events each year. Click on the link below to view upcoming events.
Summer Camps
Summer Musical Theatre Camp
St. Mary’s Musical Theatre Camp is a fun and unique experience that offers students ages 14-19 (or will turn 14 on or before Sept. 1) the opportunity to learn a full-length Broadway musical in just one week. Ending the week with two performances free to the public, every student will have a chance to showcase skills learned on the stage or behind the scenes.
Summer Band Camp
Join us for St. Mary’s University Summer Band Camp! Open to students in grades 6-12, the camp offers full band rehearsals, technique classes, fun electives and a final concert. Enjoy a week of music-making and enhance your skills with us.
Summer Jazz Camp
The St. Mary’s University Summer Jazz Camp offers middle and high school students (ages 12-18) an immersive jazz experience with top faculty. Students refine their skills, enjoy daily faculty performances and conclude the week with a final showcase in Conference Room A at the University Center.
Summer Orchestra Camp
St. Mary’s University proudly presents a Summer Orchestra Camp this June! Join us for a structured week of orchestra rehearsals, technique classes, fun electives and a final concert.
Community
Alpha Psi Omega
The Tau Zeta Cast at St. Mary’s University is the local chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, the national theatre honor society. It promotes theatre as a transformative art and is essential to the creative growth and development of its members.
Community Outreach
Theatre serves as a transformative and enriching benefit to those who engage in it. We have reached out to the San Antonio community not only to share our talents and abilities but also to strengthen perceptions of how theatre can impact lives.
- Mentorship productions with local middle schools
- Discounted matinee performances for high school students (with post-show discussion forums)
- Community panel discussions on issues affiliated with our productions
- THEATREQUEST (summer program for middle and high school students)
- Storytelling Time at the Children’s Shelter of San Antonio
- Workshops with local non-profit organizations
- Teacher training with local elementary schools
How our program serves our community
Contact Us
Matthew Mireles, D.M.A.
Department of Music and Theatre Artsmmireles1@stmarytx.edu
210-436-3421
Academic Programs in the Department of Music and Theatre Arts
Faculty in the Department of Music and Theatre Arts
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Joseph Caploe Adjunct Professor of Percussion -
Kristin Delia Hayes, D.M. Adjunct Professor of Flute -
Philip Johnson Adjunct Professor of Violin -
Daniel Long, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Music -
Matthew Mireles, D.M.A. Chair of the Department of Music and Theatre Arts -
Steve Peterson Adjunct Professor of Trombone -
Maria Smith Director of the Liturgical Choir -
Brother Michael Sullivan, S.M., D.M.A. Lecturer of Music -
Carol Vokes Adjunct Professor of Piano -
Adrian Ruiz, D.M.A. Director of Jazz Studies -
Bassam Nashawati Orchestra Director -
Qizhen Liu, D.M.A. Adjunct Professor of Cello -
Jason Valdez Adjunct Professor of Guitar -
Michael Gómez Adjunct Professor of Music Production -
Richard Herrera, M.Ed, M.A., B.M.Ed. Adjunct Professor -
Zack Varner D.M.A. Adjunct Professor of Woodwinds -
Mark Alexander, D.M.A. Adjunct Professor of Piano -
Dion Denevan Technical Director and Designer -
Stacy Marie Southern Adjunct Faculty -
Shawn Hardee Instructor of Drama -
Bernadette Hamilton-Brady, M.F.A. Chair of the Music and Theatre Arts Department