The University of Texas at Tyler’s School of Performing Arts has expanded its programs and ensemble offerings, a change driven by steady enrollment growth over the past 13 years. Dr. Sarah Roberts, the school's director, attributes the expansion to increased student numbers and heightened recognition for the programs.
“With more students and more recognition and visibility, we’re able to offer more things,” Roberts stated. This growth has allowed the school to significantly broaden its offerings for students interested in the performing arts.
A notable expansion is in the instrumental music program, where increasing student numbers have transformed a single collaborative wind group into two distinct, full concert bands. This provides more opportunities for students to participate in ensemble performance and develop their musical skills. The school has also seen an increase in the size of its musical theater casts, indicating a greater capacity for larger-scale productions and student involvement in theatrical performances. Further diversifying its instrumental offerings, the School of Performing Arts has initiated a new string program, adding another dimension to its comprehensive music education.
In addition to expanding performance opportunities, faculty members are actively developing new academic pathways designed to prepare students for diverse careers within the arts industry. These developing fields include music technology, focusing on the technical aspects of music production and sound design. Another pathway is music business, which aims to equip students with the entrepreneurial and administrative skills necessary to navigate the commercial side of the music industry. Furthermore, the school is working on a music therapy pathway, which would prepare students to use music as a therapeutic tool in healthcare and wellness settings.
To provide practical, real-world technical theater experience, UT Tyler is engaging in a partnership with the Pollard Theater. This collaboration will support a January staging of “The Prince of Egypt,” offering students direct involvement in the production. Through this partnership, UT Tyler students will have the opportunity to work on essential behind-the-scenes elements such as sets, makeup, and costumes. This hands-on experience is crucial for students pursuing careers in technical theater and production. Dr. Roberts emphasized the collaborative nature of this initiative, noting that students are not only performing alongside community members but are also interning in behind-the-scenes roles. The partnership is “very exited about this partnership” due to these multiple levels of student engagement and community involvement, Roberts said.
Student ensembles from the School of Performing Arts are preparing for upcoming public performances. These events are scheduled to take place at two prominent venues within the university and the wider community: the Braithwaite Recital Hall and the Cowan Center. The ongoing growth and expansion of programs at UT Tyler’s School of Performing Arts reflect an increased capacity to serve its student body and provide diverse educational and performance opportunities within the East Texas region. The continued development of new academic pathways and community partnerships signals an ongoing commitment to preparing students for a broad range of careers in the performing arts.
