MSM History

Centennial Celebrations

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Celebrating 100 Years of Manhattan School of Music

Manhattan School of Music celebrated its 100th Anniversary in 2018–19 with the re-opening of its fully renovated concert hall, a new campus entrance, and a season of special events and performances to mark this auspicious landmark.


The Centennial Project

After several years of strategic planning and ongoing fundraising, the Centennial Project — comprising a renovation of Manhattan School of Music’s principal performance space and the opening of a grand new campus entrance — has been completed. More than a mere refurbishment of Neidorff-Karpati Hall, this endeavor represents a wholesale re-imagining of the hall’s aesthetic and acoustic environment; its re-opening reverberating through every corner of MSM.

A larger, more open stage easily accommodates the largest symphony orchestras, opera, and musical theatre productions, while new, comfortable chairs in an acoustically sound and resonant listening environment will enhance the live music and theatre experience for future generations of listeners. And getting there is half the fun: all who enter MSM are welcomed through a grand new entrance on Claremont Avenue, one that radiates the warmth of the MSM Community and underscores the artistic excellence for which we are known.

“We’re thrilled to share elements of our past, present, and future with New York audiences and the world in a year of events that tell a ground-breaking story of vision, community, inclusiveness, and artistic excellence.”

President of Manhattan School of Music

Centennial Events

The 100th Anniversary of this remarkable institution allowed us the opportunity to celebrate the dedication, talent, and vision that have brought MSM to its current place among the world’s great music conservatories, and also allowed us to mark the dawn of our next 100 years. Three prominent concert events, featuring current students, faculty, and distinguished alumni, served as focal points for MSM’s season-long Centennial celebrations:

  • A season-opening performance at The Riverside Church on September 28, 2018
  • A major concert celebrating the opening of the newly renovated Neidorff-Karpati Hall on November 17, 2018
  • A 100th-Anniversary Gala performance at Carnegie Hall on April 17, 2019

Please read more details about our Centennial programming in this overview by John Blanchard (MM ’89), Institutional Historian & Director of Archives.


*premiere given at MSM

Centennial Book

As a culmination of our Centennial year, a deluxe 304-page publication celebrating 100 Years of MSM history from 1918 – 2018 is available now.

This award-winning publication is the most comprehensive document ever produced about MSM. It features photos and scanned documents from the Manhattan School of Music Archives that illuminate each year since our founding and is filled with historical details, anecdotes, and alumni reflections. Thousands of mentions of students, faculty, alumni, and guest performers are all carefully indexed for easy reference.

Visit here, to learn more and to order your copy.

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