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Department of Music

Music Performance, Music Education, Music, Arts Management and Master of Music in Choral Conducting

Music scholarships available

Whether you intend to build your degree around music or simply want to perform in an ensemble, Simpson offers a robust scholarship program for students from all majors interested in continuing musical pursuits throughout college.

Opportunities in Music


There are so many ways to get involved at Simpson and share your love of music. 

Max Piano

Why choose to study music at Simpson?

It's hard to come up with just one reason! Some students come to Simpson because they like having the feeling of a top-notch conservatory along with the benefits of being nestled in a liberal arts campus.

Some students come to experience the one-on-one coaching and feedback that helps them become the best musicians they can be.

Some come because of the exceptional performing opportunities and instruction that give them what they will need to be successful in the next steps of their performing careers - often graduate school.

Others come to combine their love and study of music with other fields such as management, computer science, graphic design or multimedia journalism.

And all students who choose Music at Simpson benefit from excellent ensemble experiences, applied music instruction (lessons) with exceptionally qualified and expert faculty, and opera performances that are open to any student, regardless of major.

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Do you want to transfer to Simpson? We're ready for you!


We welcome transfer students into the family that is Music at Simpson. Many courses you may have already completed will transfer seamlessly, and if you have completed your A.A. degree at an accredited community college, you will have met all general education requirements at Simpson.

Additionally, all transfer students are eligible for music scholarships.

Notable Alumni

Many talented students have come through the music program at Simpson over the years. Here are a few alumni who are experiencing tremendous career success:

Michael Egel, General and Artistic Director of Des Moines Metro Opera

John Moore, baritone, graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program, recurring performer with the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, Glyndebourne Festival Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, et al.

John Osborne, Principal Tenor, Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, BBC Proms, Salzburg Festival, La Monnaie (Brussels), L’Opéra de Paris, New York City Opera, La Scala Milan, et al.

Gayletha Nichols, former Executive Director of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and current Apprentice Program Director at Santa Fe Opera

Des Moines Opera

Des Moines Metro Opera


Simpson College is the performing home of the Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO), a major American Summer Opera Festival and Iowa's largest performing arts organization. Simpson enjoys an historic, close partnership with DMMO. It provides Simpson students with the invaluable opportunity to experience professional opera and a professional arts organization on their doorstep, and to serve as interns and production staff in the summer opera festival. Many singers from Simpson have taken part in the DMMO Apprentice Artist Program, an opportunity afforded usually to only the most talented graduate students and young professional singers from all over the United States.

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