Since 1946, Detmold University of Music has enjoyed an excellent reputation both nationally and internationally. The campus, with its exceptionally well-equipped premises set around the listed Palais Garden, a library centre in line with modern standards, and other institutes, offers the best possible conditions for undisturbed study. The students are trained for careers in orchestras, on the concert and opera stage, and on the conducting podium. In addition to this, courses of study in music pedagogy and church music augment our profile, along with music outreach, and the internationally accredited Erich Thienhaus Institute, which is primarily concerned with the artistic aspects of music production.

In numerous venues on and off campus, the university has made a name for itself as a regional arts promoter, laying on more than 400 concerts per year. The principal venue is the Konzerthaus which, with its 600 seats and unique wave field synthesis, has an outstanding acoustic. The mission to anchor music firmly in our society is embraced at present by 224 teaching staff, approximately 758 students of 56 different nationalities, 68 technical and administrative staff, and the university management. At the helm, as of the winter semester 2014/15, sits Prof. Dr. Thomas Grosse as university rector.

Detmold is fundamentally shaping the landscape for universities of music with its developments in music production and music outreach. Students training as sound engineers at the internationally accredited Erich Thienhaus Institute work closely with practical artistic disciplines at the university. The Music Outreach/Music Mangement postgraduate course responds to changes in the perception of classical music and to the concert scene itself. Along with Berlin University of the Arts, Detmold University of Music is one of only two universities in Germany with professorships in string chamber music, the post being held by the renowned Auryn Quartet. Aside from its artistic training, Detmold University of Music is also active in the field of research. Two institutes are responsible for driving considerable scholarly advancements: the Zentrum für Musik und Filminformatik (ZeMFI - Centre for Music and Film IT) is a collaborative project with the OWL (Ostwestfalen-Lippe) University, investigating the interaction between music and computers and integrating new research techniques into artistic practice. Commissioned by the state, the Zentrum Musik | Edition | Medien (Zen|M|E|M - Music, Edition, Media Centre) is concerned with the still young field of digital editions. In collaboration with Paderborn University, a separate musicological institute exists, whose research benefits students of performance and pedagogical disciplines.

For church musicians, three magnificent instruments are available. Besides the Klais organ in the Konzerthaus and the Sandtner organ in the Palais, the Schuke organ in the Heilig-Kreuz parish church was inaugurated in 2010. A timely and professional fostering of the new generation of musicians is provided by the Detmolder Jungstudierenden-Institut (Detmold Young Students' Institute) and the Detmolder Sommerakademie. Both establishments are supported by an in-house university fund which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2016, during which time it has amassed assets of over a million euros.

Since April 2012, Detmold has been the locus for matters concerning quality management and educational development on the German university of music landscape. The offices of the Netzwerk Musikhochschulen (University of Music Network) are domiciled here, of which 11 of Germany's 24 universities of music are members. The in-house music crèche offers students of elementary music education a suitable workplace, whilst creating a further childcare option for children of families associated with the university. Since 2015, the university has been one of five equal partner institutions of the FORUM Wissenschaft | Bibliothek | Musik (FORUM Scholarship, Library, Music). Through the pooling of music library holdings with the Lippe State Library, it is of great value to a broad demographic, thereby benefiting the community as a whole.

Detmold University of Music is a collaborative university. As one of five state-run universities in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL), it raises the profile of the Campus OWL organisation. Furthermore, as a firm partner of Studienfonds OWL, the university is involved in a scholarship programme for talented students.