The mini-documentary was produced and created by MSM Institutional Historian & Director of Archives John K. Blanchard (MM ’89).
“This video is a wonderful homage to Dr. Janet D. Schenck and her incredible legacy, spelled out in loving detail by MSM archivist John Blanchard,” says the School’s president, James Gandre. “It’s a terrific accomplishment and worthy of this recognition.”
The 13-minute video, entitled Manhattan School of Music’s Founder: Janet Daniels Schenck, won awards in three non-broadcast categories: “Arts & Culture” (Silver Award), “Documentary: Short Form” (Bronze Award), and “Low Budget” (Silver Award).
WATCH VIDEO HERE BY CLICKING ON THE ARROW ON LEFT
It premiered in 2022 on the 139th anniversary of Dr. Schenck’s birth (November 22) and celebrates her and her tireless work to establish what has become one of the world’s leading music conservatories.
This year, the Telly Awards honored “innovative, inclusive, and disruptive work that ‘Breaks Through the Static’ of overwhelming content delivery and consumption.” The 2023 multi-category competition had nearly 13,000 entries from five continents and all 50 U.S. states.
Janet Daniels Schenck (1883–1976) founded what would become Manhattan School of Music as a community music school in 1918. The video chronicles Dr. Schenck’s journey and the School she nurtured. It premiered on November 22, 2022, which marked both the 139th anniversary of Dr. Schenck’s birth and MSM’s inaugural “Founder’s Day,” a new tradition launched by MSM President James Gandre. The annual event (and the video) celebrates Dr. Schenck, the School’s visionary leader for over four decades.
“Dr. Schenck’s legacy is evident in everything we do,” says President Gandre. “MSM today would not exist if not for Dr. Schenck and the work she inspired others to undertake; this new tradition pays tribute to her efforts.”
The theme of “community” runs through the video, reflecting a quote from Dr. Schenck, who wrote in her 1960 memoir: “No one knows better than I do that our School, or any school, is more than the efforts of any one person — it grows from the devotion and vision and hard work of a group of dedicated people — some contributing much and some little, but each leaving upon it the touch of [their] personality.”
MSM faculty member Ruth Golden served as “the voice” of Dr. Schenck in recorded excerpts of Adventure in Music, Schenck’s 1960 memoir, throughout the featurette. Mr. Blanchard, who wrote and produced the video, also serves as narrator.
MSM Institutional Historian & Director of Archives John K. Blanchard (MM ’89) poses with the three Telly awards won by MSM.
“One old file folder looks like every other,” explains Blanchard, who has been associated with the School for 36 years, first as a student and then as an administrator, “until you show those pieces of fading ephemera to others and explain their importance. I am honored to able to do that for the School and for the legacy of Dr. Schenck. Having this recognized outside of our community is icing on the cake.”
The award-winning video and details on this central figure in MSM’s history can be found here on the School’s website:
“In a time when the ubiquity of screens brings more clutter than quality into our lives, we are truly thrilled to honor you this year as a standard bearer of video and television excellence,” writes Sabrina Dridje, Executive Director of the Telly Awards, the world’s largest honor for video and television across all screens. “The caliber of the work this season truly has reflected the theme of breaking out and standing out.” Established in 1979, the Telly Awards receive entries from all 50 states and five continents annually. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council — an industry body of over 200 leading experts including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks. This year’s winners across the various categories include Airbnb, Audible, BET Networks/BET Digital, BritBox, NASA, National Geographic Society, Netflix, Paramount, PBS Digital Studios, and many more. www.tellyawards.com
MSM’s Telly Awards Winner’s page for the Non-Broadcast Craft Category “Arts & Culture:” Manhattan School of Music’s Founder: Janet Daniels Schenck (tellyawards.com)
MSM’s Telly Awards Winner’s page for the Non-Broadcast Craft Category “Low Budget:” Manhattan School of Music’s Founder: Janet Daniels Schenck (tellyawards.com)
MSM’s Telly Awards Winner’s page for the Non-Broadcast Craft Category “Documentary: Short Form:” Manhattan School of Music’s Founder: Janet Daniels Schenck (tellyawards.com)
Jeff Breithaupt Vice President for Media and Communications jbreithaupt@msmnyc.edu
John Blanchard MSM Institutional Historian & Director of Archives jblanchard@msmnyc.edu
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