March 9, 2026

We invite you to read this letter sent to the MSM Community about the upcoming retirement of conductor George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76), Director of MSM Orchestral Activities and Chair of the Conducting Department. His final concert conducting the MSM Symphony Orchestra takes place on April 15.

Dear members of the MSM Community,

After 56 years of extraordinary service, artistry, and devotion to Manhattan School of Music, George Manahan — Director of Orchestral Activities, Chair of the Conducting Department, and double MSM alumnus — has informed us of his intention to retire from MSM at the end of this academic year. George’s time at MSM impacted generations of students across the instrumental and vocal areas of the School, and we are immensely grateful to him for his devotion and dedication.

George’s Manhattan School of Music story is not merely one of long service; it is of a life profoundly shaped by, and in turn shaping, this institution. He first arrived at MSM in September 1969 as a 17-year-old piano major studying with Ernest Ulmer. He earned his Bachelor of Music in 1973, and soon thereafter entered the Master of Music program in Conducting, studying with Anton Coppola and George Schick, graduating in 1976. Even as a student, George was already fully immersed in the artistic life of the School, conducting the Contemporary Ensemble, Repertory Orchestra, and Wind Symphony, while also performing as a pianist with the Group for Contemporary Music and in new works by his colleagues.

His relationship with MSM has been lifelong and deeply rooted. George joined the conducting faculty at various times beginning in 1977, returning again in 1981 and later in 2010. Even during the years when he was not formally on staff, he remained a vital artistic presence, returning as a guest conductor for numerous programs, including the memorable 1991 Gala Concert honoring soprano Birgit Nilsson.

When he returned to MSM in 2010 as Director of Orchestral Activities, George spoke with characteristic humility and warmth about what the School meant to him: he recalled the “wonderful teachers…who set such a high standard of excellence but also combined it with a nurturing and caring approach,” and expressed his hope to carry forward that same tradition of guidance and concern for the next generation of musicians. Over the ensuing years, he did exactly that — quietly, consistently, and with profound impact.

Under his leadership, MSM’s orchestral performances earned widespread critical acclaim. Writing in The New York Times in 2011, Vivien Schweitzer praised the “spirit and polish” George drew from the MSM Symphony, noting its confident brass and “rich, full-blooded string sound.” A year later in the same newspaper, Zachary Woolfe singled out the ensemble’s “tightly massed brasses and firm winds,” and described a moment in Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring where the exposed strings played with “otherworldly precision.” Such moments became hallmarks of George’s work: disciplined yet expressive, exacting yet deeply musical.

Over the course of his matchless career at MSM, George kept busy, distinguishing himself at the podium with many illustrious orchestras and ensembles, including, for ​15 years, as Music Director of New York City Opera at Lincoln Center. At MSM, he conducted over 200 performances, mentoring generations of young conductors and instrumentalists, many of whom carry his influence into major musical institutions around the world. His contributions have been recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award in 2008 and, most recently, the President’s Medal for Distinguished Service in 2024, a fitting acknowledgment of a career defined by loyalty, excellence, and selfless commitment.

George Manahan’s legacy at Manhattan School of Music is immeasurable. He has been a student, alumnus, teacher, conductor, leader, and steward of the School’s artistic values. Above all, he has been a guiding presence — one who has believed deeply in young musicians and held them to the highest standards while supporting them with care and respect.

As George enters this next chapter, we extend our heartfelt thanks for his extraordinary service and lasting influence. MSM is forever shaped by his musicianship, his leadership, and his unwavering belief in the power of education and artistry.

George will be recognized and honored at MSM’s Commencement in May, and we will share more information about celebrating George’s retirement following his last two conducting engagements with the MSM Symphony Orchestra (April 15) and MSM’s mainstage Opera Theatre production of La clemenza di Tito (April 3-May 2). Please join us in thanking and congratulating George on his enduring years of service at MSM.

Sincerely,

MSM President James Gandre
MSM Provost and Executive Vice President Joyce Griggs
MSM Dean of Instrumental Studies and Orchestral Performance JT Kane