Update

I have heard from Martin Schuring and, with his permission, I’m posting his email here. I think some readers will be relieved:

I read your blog listing the ASU music programs that were eliminated recently. It is true that ASU cut quite a few academic programs this past week, mandated by very large budget cuts passed by our legislature. They also took that opportunity to clear off some programs that we had not used for years, and that had no students following those degrees. We haven’t had a masters degree in performance for years; we now call it masters in vocal performance, keyboard performance, orchestral instrument, etc. It allows us to be more specific in setting requirements for disciplines that are quite different from each other. So, nothing was lost and we will continue to educate masters students in music just as before.

Arizona State University is announcing program closures, including these:

Music

M.A. Music and Music Theory Concentration (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
M.M. Music concentrations in
– Performance (Music Theatre/Opera Directing) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Music (Performance) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Performance (Music Theatre Performance) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
– Performance (Music Theatre Musical Director) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
Music Ed (Jazz Studies) (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)
Music Artist Diploma (applications closed; process of disestablishment has begun)

Martin Schuring is the oboe professor there, and is quite well known in the oboe world.

I’m just rather stunned.