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Manhattan School of Music, a major national and international force
in professional music education, was founded 90 years ago. Today
it is the largest private conservatory in the nation offering both
classical and jazz training. The School fulfills a major role in
society by preparing talented men and women for careers as performing
musicians, teachers, administrators, and involved audience members
who will keep the legacy of great music alive.
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 (see drawing on this page). 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.
Mrs. Schenck established the School's motto from Virgil's Aeneid:
"Macte Virtute, sic itur ad Astra" or
“Those who excel, thus reach the stars.”
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; Gideon W.
Waldrop was appointed in 1986; and Peter C. Simon in 1989.
Marta Casals Istomin, former director of the Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts, served as president of the School from 1992
until 2005. David A. Rahm, chairman of the board of trustees, stated
at the time of her retirement announcement: “Mrs. Istomin
has presided over an extraordinary chapter in the history of Manhattan
School of Music. During her tenure, Manhattan School of Music has
grown in stature from a leading conservatory of music in the United
States to a place of international eminence. Among many new and
revitalized programs, she has, with the support and approval of
the board of trustees, brought in numerous internationally known
musicians to lead master classes and orchestral sessions, upgraded
the permanent faculty, expanded the curriculum and performance programs,
added a model distance learning program, and increased the size
and quality of the student body. Her vision and energy encouraged
the trustees to embark on a capital campaign that provided a 21-story
building, opened in 2001, that doubled the size of the campus and
added many new facilities to the School. Mrs. Istomin’s legacy
is a Manhattan School of Music that has become an extraordinary
institution, staffed by a devoted administration and faculty. She
has provided a secure platform on which we can build a great future
in the community. For this, we stand forever in her debt.”
Under the new leadership of Robert Sirota, who was elected president
in the summer of 2005, Manhattan School of Music serves the city
of New York, the nation, and the international music community.
At the present time, 75 percent of the students come from outside
New York State and 41 percent from outside the United States. The
School's international reputation is confirmed by its continuing
and expanding global presence.
As one of the components of New York's Upper West Side "Academic
Acropolis," Manhattan School of Music shares its neighborhood
with Columbia University, Barnard College, Columbia College, Columbia
Teachers College, Bank Street College, Union and Jewish theological
seminaries, the Riverside Church, International House, and the Cathedral
of St. John the Divine. The School thrives in this atmosphere of
ideas, ideals, goals, and achievements. Much of its strength derives
from New York City itself, the leading music center of the world.
The School's 270-member faculty is selected from a rich pool of
resident and visiting artists, and other internationally acclaimed
artists regularly give master classes. The New York City location
also gives students an incomparable learning laboratory, providing
an abundance of the highest quality artistic offerings of classical
music, jazz, theater, dance, and cabaret. It also provides varied
and outstanding student performance opportunities.
For detailed information about our campus and performance spaces,
please visit our Facilities pages.
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