The University offers a wealth of subjects and in addition to piano, organ and singing students can also study: all of the orchestral instruments, composition, conducting of (orchestra and choir), guitar, harp and elementary music pedagogy (EMP). Musicology and the theory of music round-off our comprehensive range of practical subjects on offer in Stuttgart. All the subjects can be studied in either the artistic or music pedagogical courses. We also offer school music and church music. Students can complement their studies with time spent at orchestral academy of the RSO Stuttgart. For musicology and music pedagogy the University has the right to confer doctoral degrees and award post-doctoral (professorial) qualifications.
With respect to the performing arts (opera school, theatre, visual theatre and puppetry, spoken arts) the University benefits from its own theater (Wilhelma Theatre) that is part of the University. We also operate an opera studio in cooperation with the Staatsoper Stuttgart in order to promote vocal training: and an acting studio in conjunction with the Staatsschauspiel Stuttgart and several other theatres in Baden-Württemberg offer students a means of gaining practical experience.
Annually, there are about 450 public concerts in the architecturally attractive University building with its imposing, 50 m high tower in the center of the state capital Stuttgart. The University accommodates three concert halls with up to 500 seats. Around a 100 more concert- and theatre events are shown at the Wilhelma theater. About 85,000 visitors a year attend these events.
A few more of the University’s important differentiating features include: the University’s own theatre dating from 1840, the unique collection of 11 organs, as well as a technically well-equipped studio for electronic music, and the only existing figure theatre course in the former West German states.
CAMPUS GEGENWART is a state center which focusses on contemporary topics, creating a space for networking, both in practice and reflection. It is part of the HMDK Stuttgart, and functions in cooperation with the Stuttgart State Academy of Art and Design. CAMPUS GEGENWART brings a focus on contemporary topics and artistic practices to the everyday life of the HMDK, an institution which up to now has often been marked by students' focus on specialization in a respective subject. In the field of teaching, the team of CAMPUS GEGENWART and our cooperating colleagues from the Art Academy have opened their courses to all students, creating a space where students from many different disciplines mix together in the classroom. For the students, CAMPUS GEGENWART offers the possibility to study beyond their own specialized subjects and integrate these courses in their own studies. The CAMPUS GEGENWART research projects focus on transdisciplinary collaboration, with an emphasis on thinking through our present moment from an extremely wide range of perspectives.
The University is organized into four faculties, eleven institutes, and five studios. One active support association and two University-own foundations sustain the university. For commercial tasks, the University can refer to its own GmbH as a subsidiary.
The State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart is a member of the Rectors’ Conference of the German Universities of Music, the HRK – German Rectors’ Conference, and also the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC).
