Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart

The HMDK Stuttgart was founded in 1857, making it the oldest and, with approximately 800 students currently enrolled, also the largest college of music and performing arts in Baden-Württemberg. As part of Stuttgart’s cultural district, it plays a major role not only as a college but also as a concert organizer and cultural hub for Stuttgart and the surrounding region.

The music program offers a wide range of courses; in addition to piano, organ, and voice, all orchestral instruments, composition, music theory, conducting (orchestra and choir), recorder, harpsichord, guitar, elementary music education, and jazz & pop are offered as majors. Academic and music education courses complement the practical music curriculum. All subjects can be studied with a focus on either the performing arts or music education; students may also choose the programs in High School Teaching with Music (Bachelor’s and Master’s) and Church Music (Bachelor’s and Master’s). The Orchestra Academy in collaboration with SWR (and soon also with the State Theater, currently in preparation) and the SWR Vocal Ensemble Academy are essential components of the program. The university is authorized to grant doctoral and postdoctoral degrees in musicology and music education.

For the performing arts programs (opera school, acting, puppetry, the art of speech, and communication education), a dedicated theater building (Wilhelma Theater) is available, which is part of the university. An opera studio, operated in collaboration with the Stuttgart State Opera, serves to promote training in opera singing, while a drama studio—jointly supported by the Stuttgart State Theater and other theaters in southern Germany—is maintained for drama students.

In the architecturally striking university building with its distinctive tower in the center of Stuttgart, the state capital, approximately 450 public concerts are held each year. The university has three concert halls available for this purpose. An additional 100 or so concert and theater performances are held at the Wilhelma Theater. These events attract approximately 85,000 visitors annually.

In addition to the university’s own theater, the unique collection of ten organs in various historical styles, a well-equipped studio for electronic music, as well as the only puppetry degree program in Germany outside of the one at the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Arts in Berlin, and the only degree program in the art of speech and communication pedagogy in the country—all of which are further distinguishing features of the university.

The university is organized into four faculties, eleven institutes, and five studios. In addition to an active association of friends and supporters of the university, it is supported by two university-affiliated foundations. A separate limited liability company (GmbH) serves as a subsidiary for commercial activities.

The Stuttgart State University of Music and Performing Arts is a member of the Conference of Rectors of German Music Academies within the HRK and of the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC).