We're an active bunch based in Joplin, Missouri! Below is a sampling of our recent campus events or off-campus masterclasses/events with participating MSSU students. You can follow our activities more closely on our Facebook page!

Our Story:

Dr. Robinson joined the MSSU faculty as an adjunct in 2017, and was hired as the university's first Assistant Professor of Flute in 2018. The studio includes students from diverse backgrounds, who pursue careers in music education, in performance, and in fields outside of music. The qualities they all share are a love of music and an enthusiasm for new experiences. Would you like big school experiences in a small school environment? Southern might be the right place for you.

On-Campus Opportunities

Missouri Southern boasts opportunities similar to many other music programs; we have several active bands, as well as an on-campus orchestra. 

But that isn't all! The flute studio collaborates regularly with organizations like ProMusica Joplin, the MSSU International Studies department, and Altus Flutes to bring artists like Amy Porter (U of Michigan), Alexa Still (Oberlin), and Nicole Riner (U of Wyoming) to campus for recitals, workshops, and masterclasses. The MSSU Flute Studio believes it is vital that students be exposed to all career paths, so we've had visits from local hero Valerie Watts (OKC Phil), self-care guru Kallie Snyder, and Britt Trotter, a multi-stream career artist like no other. 

MSSU has hosted several on-campus Flute Days, which are great opportunities for area flute students - but also give the Southern flutes exposure to event management and experience working with younger students. It's never too early to start planning for the career you want. The MSSU Flute Studio conscientiously works to match students with experiences that reflect their professional interests.

Off-Campus Opportunities

Is George Pope giving a masterclass in Kansas City? We're there.
Will Molly Barth be performing in the OKC Metro? We're there.
Is Mark Sparks playing a concerto in St. Louis? Let's go.

Thanks to the university's very generous support, the MSSU Flute Ensemble has performed twice at the Oklahoma Flute Society's annual flute fair, and was awarded a Domestic Student Travel Grant to attend the National Flute Association Convention in Dallas, Texas. (It was later cancelled for COVID safety, but we're already plotting for next time ...) MSSU Flutes understand that there's a wide world of music out there, and we try to be where the music-making is happening as often as we can. 

More importantly, we try to have life experiences while we're traveling. Well-rounded people make well-rounded musicians, right? Arguably one of the best MSSU Flute traditions is what Dr. R jokingly calls "Mandatory Fun." Each time we travel, participating students are treated to a new adventure. (Admittedly, so far they've all been food-related. You've got to eat!) We've tried Vietnamese pho and authentic Japanese ramen as a studio. Alexa Still brought us vegemite! We hope to have many new adventures soon, and pause for a new cuisine along the way. 

What Next?

One of the best things about Missouri Southern is the flexibility. We offer in-state tuition for students from any state that borders Missouri - and Texas! Because of our international mission, there are sometimes funds available for international student scholarships. The honors program has an extremely generous series of scholarships for students with an ACT score of 28 or higher. MSSU understands it can be challenging for first-generation college students, and there are financial resources available if this describes you. Basically: if you're interested, get in touch! We'll find a way to help if we can. (And you'll find that mantra to be true for much of your time at MSSU!)

If you have questions about the MSSU music program, or scholarship options, please reach out - we'd love to know if MSSU might be for you!