Because God himself is musical, all creation sounds his praise. When his people are controlled by his Spirit, the music they make glorifies King Jesus. Thus the only higher pursuit than the study of music is the study of God himself. Because of our faithfulness to Christ and Scripture, and our commitment to musical excellence, TMU is one of the best places to get to know God better—and to learn to make, teach, and produce music for his glory.
At The Master’s University, music students like Sophia Holdorf pursue academic excellence with an unwavering commitment to Christ and Scripture, learning the practical skills they need and gaining experience playing alongside professionals.
Our annual Come Christmas Sing! Concerts feature student soloists, music ensembles, University Singers and Orchestra and The Master’s Chorale.
Last semester, our students performed 8 scenes from various operas, including Hansel and Gretel, Don Giovanni and Les Miserables.
The annual Master’s Chorale Concert is a hit as the TMU community – current students, alumni, faculty and staff – witness a year’s worth or practice and dedication, and worship to our Lord.
During her time at The Master’s University, violinist Enoria Lee learned how to better approach her craft as an act of worship.
“Master’s has been teaching me something more important [than musical technique]: how to better worship. Not only using violin, but using everything—every detail in my life . . . It’s so easy for me to say, ‘I’m doing this for the Lord,’ on the stage, but it’s even more important to live it out, and to do it in daily life.”
We are the faculty of The Master’s University. Together, we are dedicated to the sufficiency, inerrancy, and authority of God’s inspired Word — from Genesis to Revelation. Each year, we re-affirm and teach every point of TMU’s doctrinal statement, which has remained fundamentally unchanged since the institution was formed in 1927. In every respect, our mission and our educational philosophy are rooted in Scripture.
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The Master’s Chorale is an auditioned choir representing students from almost every academic major at the university. During its annual tours, the Chorale has traveled to various regions of the United States, to Israel every four years, and to the United Kingdom, Spain, Albania and Russia. In addition to performances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City, the Chorale has been featured in recordings with Bob Krogstad, Joni Eareckson Tada, Keith and Kristin Getty, Matt Redman, and for a special television segment for Wretched TV.
The Master’s University String Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble of students, faculty and professional musicians from Los Angeles. Performing works for strings and combining with the Wind Ensemble to showcase standard orchestral and film score pieces, these musicians hold concerts and record each semester.
The University Singers is a non-auditioned, campus community choir that combines with the University Orchestra to present large Christmas and Easter concerts each year. A wide variety of classical and contemporary sacred music is performed. Members of these groups have travelled to New York City to perform at Lincoln Center.
The University Orchestra combines with the University Singers to present large Christmas and Easter concerts each year. A wide variety of classical and contemporary sacred music is performed. Members of these groups have travelled to New York City to perform at Lincoln Center.
This up-and-coming instrumental group of TMU students and local musicians performs at on- and off-campus events every semester.
Up to 12 students, eight singers and four instrumentalists, who regularly travel to churches, performing an array of Christ-honoring music and introducing people to TMU.
Members of the group receive scholarships, and admittance to the ensemble is by audition only.
TMU’s Opera is a semester project that concludes in a staged production ranging from selected opera scenes in a concert setting to a fully staged and costumed show accompanied by orchestra. Works of the masters as well as more contemporary composers are represented.
Showcasing standard works from the piano duet and duo literature and promoting community-outreach events for children, TMU’s pianists perform throughout the year. Recent programs have featured narrated performances of Saint-Säens’ Carnival of the Animals and Poulenc’s L’Historie de Babar. At Christmas, our pianists present arrangements of beloved carols with anywhere from two to 12 pianists playing simultaneously.
Instrumental Chamber Ensembles including String, Brass, Woodwind, and Mixed Quartets, Guitar Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble are dependent on student availability and interest.
Students regularly share their music at Performance Practicums and Degree Recitals.
One of the priorities of TMU’s faculty is to help students recognize that every aspect of music-making is worship and enable them to develop their God-given gifts to become salt and light. Close mentorship with the music faculty is a unique aspect of study at TMU. It assists our students in growing their musical skills, pursuing academic scholarship, and learning how to live as a God-first musicians.
At TMU, students learn to work alongside fellow musicians, growing and maturing through numerous performing opportunities and learning from premier music instructors in Los Angeles. Emmy Award-winning composers and recording engineers also infuse their expertise into TMU’s program. Graduates have attained advanced music degrees, collaborated with prestigious opera companies, scored feature films, and established thriving performance careers.
Our Vision:
Shaping the Future of Music for Christ
Our graduates are making waves in music and beyond, showcasing their talent and versatility in diverse, impactful careers:
The School of Music is highly regarded, with a #2 ranking for undergraduate music programs in California and a top 2% ranking for focus in general music. The NASM accreditation underscores the program’s quality, and the 97th percentile test scores for seniors in the Bachelor of Music program highlight exceptional academic and musical performance.
Accreditation and Performance:
California rankings:
Nationwide Rankings:
Each student who is registered for individual instruction must perform in the respective studio recital at the end of each semester if one is scheduled by the instructor.
Instead of a recital, some degrees allow a student to prepare a Senior Capstone Project that showcases understanding and synthesis of a musically interesting topic through both written and presentation components. The student must acquire permission from the music faculty to complete a project instead of a recital two semesters before the semester in which the project will be completed, i.e., the spring semester for a project to be completed in the spring semester of the next academic year. If indicated on a jury form, a faculty recommendation towards a Senior Capstone Project instead of a recital should be considered binding. Please note: Music Production students have a unique senior project course and may contact the Music Production faculty for additional information.
The Recital Hall is not accessible for anyone’s use — you must obtain permission from the Recital Hall Coordinator before use. This is only granted to students preparing for a recital in the same semester. If something has been damaged or if an instrument is not working properly, please notify the office. Office computers are not available for student use, even to check email
The computer lab is a classroom and workspace for students taking music production, composition, and other music-related coursework. All files must be stored on student-owned external storage devices.
Use of the recording studio is limited to students enrolled in or having completed music production coursework. It must be secured with instructor approval and a reservation made through the Administrative Manager
The School of Music strongly recommends that every student entering in or after Fall 2022 own a MacBook Pro computer with a minimum of 16GB of ram as TMU uses Apple products exclusively for music technologies. Composition, Music Production, and Audio Production & Communications majors will be required to own a MacBook Pro as their classes require the use of this software.
Dr. Paul Plew has had a profound impact on TMU. Even after he retired as dean of the School of Music, Dr. Plew has continued to serve the school.
Since 1927, the mission of TMU has been to empower students for a life of enduring commitment to Christ, biblical fidelity, moral integrity, intellectual growth, and lasting contribution to the Kingdom of God worldwide.
The Master’s University and Seminary admit students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
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