Stetson University Rankings by Salary Score

I attended Stetson School of Music during a time in which many professorial legacies were in full swing. Such a school depends on high quality professors coming and spending their entire career there as high turnover greatly disrupts the work of a small conservatory such as Stetson School of Music. And it really is the music conservatory of the South. The professors I studied one on one with all had multiple decades of teaching and performing experience and never did I take a music class with a teaching assistant... Read More and barely an adjunct. As a result I gained a wealth of knowledge from all of them and The School of Music has grown in reputation and stature with such experience at the helm. Unfortunately, within a period of about 10 years, they've all retired and though the University is probably relieved over not having to pay their salaries, it's been impossible to replace them in kind. Therefore it seems the School of Music is in a season of restructuring and growth. Long known for its choral program, the retirement of longtime choral conductor Duncan Couch brought several conductors who've come and gone after a few years. Currently run by a husband and wife duo Timothy and Sandra Peter and coming from the nationally renowned Luther College, they have brought stability to the program and will probably be the next teaching legacy at the school. With Timothy recently promoted to Dean he currently conducts the top choir of the school, The Concert Choir, with Sondra serving as an "Acting" Director of Choral Activities. What the future holds for that position and whether or not the top choral professor of the school can also serve as the Dean (unusual for a school of this caliber) remains to be seen. Really, though the most glaring thing about the school that will be obvious to any new student making the rounds among the university departments of music in the South, is that Stetson is without a legitimate, modern performance hall or theater of any kind. Though proud of the historic chapel, Lee Hall, indeed it is a 100 year old space with wooden pews and temporary staging that in recent years has proven inadequate for a 21st century music school. Perfect for vocal and piano recitals it truly is a Recital Hall, but woefully inadequate for large ensembles both choral and instrumental. A much too loud and echo-filled room for university level choral singing, it brings the same challenges for a symphonic orchestra and the University Wind Ensemble, known for requesting players to bring their dorm comforters with which to drape over the balcony and walls as to bring the room down to a kinder acoustic. Such inadequate performance facilities is the school's biggest drawback and is currently the only department of music in the South without a legitimate performance space. Hopefully soon, a new Performance Hall will be built. However, if you want to study towards an undergraduate degree where you will be studying with full professors and have one and one personal access at all times, Stetson is your school. Many fine singers music teachers come from this fine school.