College History

Early Musical Instruction

Music courses, primarily in appreciation and performance, were offered in the College of Liberal Arts as part of UTK’s growing curriculum.

Department of Music Established

A Fine Arts program with music as a major focus was approved in 1946. In the fall of 1947, the Department of Fine Arts was officially established under David Van Vactor, marking the start of structured music education at UTK. 

Phase of Expansion

Through the 1950s – 1990s, the department grew its offerings, adding degrees in performance, theory, and education alongside expanding faculty, student ensembles, and graduate-level instruction. Piano professor Alfred Schmied helped launch master’s programs and a music library during this era.

Department Elevated to School

In recognition of its growth, the Department of Music was restructured into the UT School of Music, adding advanced curricula in areas such as composition, conducting, jazz, musicology, and music technology. 

Transformational Philanthropy & Construction

• In 2006, Natalie L. Haslam, a UT alumna and dedicated arts advocate, donates $10 million to support UT’s music programs.
• Groundbreaking for the new center took place in 2007, with the 123,000 sq ft Natalie L. Haslam Music Center opening in August 2013. The project cost approximately $40 million and included the Sandra G. Powell Recital Hall, rehearsals and performance spaces, studios, computer labs, and more than 50 practice rooms.
• Coinciding with the building’s dedication in September 2013, the School of Music achieved All‑Steinway School status, signifying that at least 90% of its pianos were Steinway-made.

Dedication Ceremony

A formal dedication was held on September 13, 2013, featuring Natalie Haslam, Gov. Bill Haslam, UT leadership, and others, celebrating the opening of the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center.

Elevation to College

The School of Music is elevated to a college-level unit within the University of Tennessee and renamed the College of Music, one of the few standalone public music colleges in the country.

A Legacy Honored

In recognition of alumna Natalie L. Haslam and the Haslam family, among the university’s most generous benefactors, the College of Music is renamed The Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. It becomes the first college of music at a public university in Tennessee and the first in the Southeastern Conference. It is also the fourth named college in UT’s 230-year history, joining the Haslam College of Business, the Herbert College of Agriculture, and the Tickle College of Engineering. 

The College today: 

• Offers degrees in performance, education, composition, theory, music business, and more 

• Enrolls ~280 undergraduates and 70 graduate students 
• Maintains a ~6:1 student-to-instructor ratio