University of Louisiana at Lafayette School of Music

05/29/2026

More good news! The UL Lafayette School of Music and UL Bands would like to welcome Dr. Kelvin Jones as our interim Director of Bands for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Dr. Jones is an active educator, conductor, musician, drill designer, and music arranger for music programs across the country, with degrees from Jackson State University and Louisiana State University. He has conducted and performed internationally in Europe and South America and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the US at both state and regional levels. He also serves as an Educational Consultant with Conn Selmer’s Division of Education, an instructor at the Smith-Walbridge Drum Major Clinic held in Charleston, Illinois, and in numerous capacities within the College Band Directors National Association. He is published in the Instrumentalist magazine and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jones to the UL music family!

05/28/2026

The UL Lafayette School of Music would like to welcome Dr. Kyle Melton as Interim Assistant Professor of Voice and Director of Opera Theatre for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Dr. Kyle Melton is a stage director, performer, and voice educator whose work bridges operatic performance, pedagogy, and vocal health research. A recipient of the 2025 American Prize in Stage Direction, he holds a DMA and MM in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University and a BA in Music from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. His research on vocal health and cancer survivorship earned LSU’s Dissertation Fellowship for his monograph “Singing through Cancer,” which was later published in “Classical Singer Magazine” in 2023. An SVI-trained vocologist, he previously taught at Eastern New Mexico University and Southeastern Louisiana University and has performed with Opera Carolina, Opéra Louisiane, and the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera.

05/16/2026

05/16/2026

UL Music Education continues its streak of 100% placement upon graduation!!! Congratulations to Ricky Abshire, new band director and fine arts teacher at Abbeville High School, Noah Sanchez, general music teacher in grades 3-5 and beginning band director at Herod Elementary, and Ben Day, who won a full assistantship to pursue a Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of Southern Mississippi.

We are so proud of you and so proud of our music education program! Geaux Cajuns!

05/16/2026

Spring 2026 Master of Music graduates with their mentors! University of Louisiana at Lafayette Graduate School

05/13/2026

Steven Guillory is the Outstanding Master’s Graduate Finalist for the School of Music in the College of the Arts. He is pursuing a master’s degree in music with a focus on choral conducting.

Guillory has presented academic papers on research topics that include the compositional language of German composer Heinrich Schütz and the harmonic rhetoric of American composer Morten Lauridsen.

He has conducted major ensembles at the University, including its tenor/bass choral, the soprano/alto choir and the chamber choir.

Guillory is director of choirs at Comeaux High School. He was nominated for the Music Educator Award as part of the 2026 Grammy Awards.

He will pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at LSU. Guillory will also launch La Voie de Jeunes, a nonprofit youth choir.

05/12/2026

is so proud of finalist Steven Guillory!

05/08/2026

Thanks to our amazing faculty who do so much for our graduate students in music every day! 

During Teacher Appreciation Week, we frequently think of the teachers who molded us during our formative school years, but this week, we also want to recognize the professors and graduate faculty who continue to guide and support our graduate students every day.

Late-night emails, research guidance, encouragement through life’s busiest seasons; your dedication makes a lasting impact. Thank you for investing your time, knowledge, and care into the students of the UL Lafayette Graduate School.

05/06/2026

the Original summer collegiate vocal experience is back: don’t miss out! register before spots run out!

At VAC, we balance amazing experiences in movement, choir and voice with the perfect amount of practice and chill time.

HIGH SCHOOL SINGERS: come see what we’re all about and spend a week with people who love what you love! Info and registration @ www.ragincajuns.com/camps

05/02/2026

UL Student String Quartet performing at the Children’s Museum of Acadiana today!