The Manhattan School of Music is one of the world's premiere music conservatories located in New York
City that offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition. It is one of the premiere private music conservatories in the world, with 275
faculty members and over 800 students from 40 countries. In addition to this, the school also features a Pre-College Division
which trains gifted young students. There are about 500 students currently enrolled in the program. Plus, it has a Summer Program.
Founded in 1917, the school is located on Claremont Avenue in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City,
adjacent to the campus of Columbia University, where it has been since 1969. Many of
the students live in the school's residence hall, Andersen Hall. At the present time, 75 percent of the students come from
outside New York State and 47 percent from outside the United States.
History
The School was founded in 1917–1918 by Janet D. Schenck, pianist and philanthropist, as the Neighborhood Music School. It was
located in a brownstone building on New York City's Upper East Side. Pablo Casals and
Harold Bauer were among the first of many distinguished artists who offered guidance to the
School. Eventually, its reputation for excellence extended throughout the greater metropolitan area, and its name was changed to
Manhattan School of Music.
In 1943, the artistic and academic growth of the School resulted in a charter amendment to grant the bachelor of music degree.
Two subsequent amendments authorized the offering in 1947 of the master of music degree and, in 1974, the degree of doctor of
musical arts. In 1956, Dr. Schenck retired and John Brownlee, noted Metropolitan
Opera baritone, was appointed director, a title later revised to president. President Brownlee initiated the idea of
relocating the School to the Morningside Heights neighborhood; his death occurred only months before his efforts were realized.
In 1969, George Schick, Metropolitan Opera conductor, accompanist, and distinguished opera coach, succeeded Brownlee as president
and led the School's move to its present location.
John O. Crosby, founder and general director of the Santa Fe Opera, was appointed president in 1976. He was followed by Gideon
W. Waldrop, who was appointed in 1986, and Peter C. Simon in 1989. On July 1, 1992, Marta
Casals Istomin was named President, a position which she held until October 2005 when she retired.
As of October 2005, Dr. Robert Sirota, former director of the Peabody Institute of
the Johns Hopkins University, took over the presidency of the Manhattan
School.
Prominent faculty
Prominent alumni
Board of Trustees
- David A. Rahm (Chairman)
- Robert Sirota (President)
- Alan M. Ades
- Betty Allen
- Nancy Terner Behrman
- Harold M. Chumaceiro
- Carla Bossi Comelli
- Marta Istomin
- Edward Lowenthal
- William R. Miller
- The Honorable Richard Owen
- Robert G. Simon
- Patrick N.W. Turner
- Gordon K. Greenfield (Emeritus)
- Paul Martinson (Emeritus)
See also
External link
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