International Experiences at KU Music

At the KU School of Music, students have extraordinary opportunities to engage with the world through performance and study abroad experiences. 

In just the past year, our ensembles have brought their talents to global stages—from Greece and Italy to Spain—and upcoming tours will take them to Poland and Japan. 

These international experiences are more than just travel; they offer students the chance to grow artistically, connect with new audiences, and represent the excellence of KU on a global scale. In addition to ensemble tours, our students can earn credit while studying music and music education abroad, with recent programs including immersive coursework in Bulgaria, Vienna, and Prague. 

If you're looking for a music school that supports global engagement and broadens your horizons as both a performer and scholar, KU is your stage!

See the World Through Music: KU Ensembles on the Global Stage
Students at the KU School of Music don’t just study music—they live it around the world. Our major ensembles regularly tour internationally, offering unforgettable cultural and professional experiences that shape our students as global artists.

KU Chamber Choir – Greece, 2023
Our vocalists explored ancient amphitheaters and historic venues during their summer tour of Greece. The ensemble performed in stunning locations, competing against choirs from around the world. The KU Chamber Choir won First Prize in their competition categories, solidifying their position as a formidable force in the choral community. 

KU Jazz Ensemble I – Italy and Spain, 2024
In 2024, our top jazz students took their sound across the Mediterranean, performing in jazz festivals and intimate venues in both Italy and Spain. They took the big stage at Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia, Italy, before touring several spots throughout Southern Spain. 

Prairie Fire Chamber Orchestra – Italy, 2025
This newly-formed chamber group debuted during their international tour in 2025, performing in historic locations throughout Italy, giving students early ensemble experience in a professional setting abroad. The orchestra performed in the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Duomo Piazzola sul Brenta . They also visited the Stradivarius Museum in Cremona, where they not only learned about some of these instruments that were hundreds of years old, but also got to view a demonstration on one of them. 

Study Abroad Courses
Beyond ensemble tours, students can earn credit through immersive study abroad programs like MEMT 598/798 in Bulgaria (new in 2024) and MUSC 135/335/750 in Vienna and Prague every January. Our students learn about cultural history of Central Europe, visiting many historical sights associated with music and attending numerous opera and concert performances. Groups also tour the Golden Hall of the Vienna Musikverein, the Semperoper in Dresden, and the National Theater in Prague.

School of Music Faculty-Led Study Abroad Programs:

Music, Nations, Empires: Culture and Politics in Vienna & Prague

Students explore the famously musical cities of Vienna and Prague with music historian and KU professor Martin Nedbal. The course examines the importance of music for the emergence of modern nations and empires between 1750 and 1900 in Vienna and Prague. It focuses on select musical works and their social, cultural, and political contexts.  The study abroad program occurs over winter break and is offered on alternating years. (MUSC 135/136/335/336 or 650, 3 credits)