International Experiences at KU Music

a group of students wearing blue KU shirts standing in front of Roman ruins

International Studies Stats

68
Global Engagements in the past year
103
International Students
31
Countries Represented

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, 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!

students playing cellos inside a cathedral in front of a statue

KU Symphony Orchestra students performing in Rome

a student playing a saxophone onstage

KU Jazz students performing at a festival in Spain

a group of students in front of a building

KU Music students partake in a trip to Vienna, Dresden, and Prague

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.

a group of musicians performing on an outdoor stage, while a conductor stands in front
KU Wind Ensemble performing at World Expo in Japan

KU Wind Ensemble

Japan, 2025
In July of 2025, at the invitation of the U.S. State Department, the University of Kansas Wind Ensemble proudly represented the United States at the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka, Japan. They performed three major concerts as part of the cultural programming for the expo. This was one of the world’s largest global events, welcoming millions of visitors from around the globe.

The ensemble also performed a Fourth of July concert on its own at the Expo’s USA Pavilion, featuring a program of American music in honor of Independence Day. On June 30, one of the Wind Ensemble’s performance days, the Expo broke a daily attendance record with more than 177,000 visitors.

KU Chamber Choir

Poland, 2025
In June of 2025, the KU Chamber Choir earned top honors at the 14th International Krakow Choir Festival and Competition Cracovia Cantans 2025, bringing home two First Prizes and Golden Diplomas! The ensemble was awarded:

  • First Prize in the Sacred Music Category with a Golden Diploma
  • First Prize in the Mixed Choir Category with a Golden Diploma 

The KU Chamber Choir was also awarded the GRAND PRIX, the overall prize for the entire competition of over 30 choirs, receiving €1,000 and a qualification to the 2026 World Choral Championship in Krakow, competing with the winners of the 2025 competitions in Taipei (Taiwan), Tokyo (Japan) and Rimini (Italy).

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. 

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. 

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. 

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)