The Curtis Institute of Music is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...

conservatory in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since ...

. It offers a performance diploma,

Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of pre ...

, Master of Music in

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

, and a Professional Studies Certificate in opera. All students attend on full scholarship.

History

The Curtis Institute of Music was founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok. She named the new school for her father, publishing magnate Cyrus Curtis. Early faculty at the institute included conductor Leopold Stokowski and the pianist

Josef Hofmann Josef Casimir Hofmann (originally Józef Kazimierz Hofmann; January 20, 1876February 16, 1957) was a Polish-American pianist, composer, music teacher, and inventor. Biography Josef Hofmann was born in Podgórze (a district of Kraków), in Au ...

. The institute has not charged tuition since 1928; it provides full scholarship to all admitted students. In 2020, following credible allegations of abuse at the hands of past faculty, the school ended its practice of keeping students enrolled "at the discretion of their major instrument teacher". In accepting the findings of an independent investigation of abuse allegations that found the practice was a "real threat" a student "could be dismissed for any reason at any time", Curtis pledged several other steps to ensure students' well-being, including providing them with access to counseling.

Admission

The institute formerly served as a training ground for orchestral musicians to fill the ranks of the Philadelphia Orchestra, although

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Def ...

organist An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational ...

pianist A pianist ( , ) is an individual musician who plays the piano. Since most forms of Western music can make use of the piano, pianists have a wide repertoire and a wide variety of styles to choose from, among them traditional classical music, ja ...

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...

ists, and singers are offered courses of study as well. With the exception of composers, conductors, pianists, organists, and guitarists, admission is granted only to the number of students to fill a single orchestra and opera company. Accordingly, enrollment is in the range of 150 to 175 students. According to statistics compiled by '' U.S. News & World Report'', the institute has the lowest acceptance rate of any college or university (4 percent), making it among the most selective institutions of higher education in the United States. Nina Simone claimed her application for a scholarship was rejected because of her race, despite excellent credentials and audition performance. Simone was one of 75 pianists to audition in 1951; only three were accepted. A short while before her death, Simone was awarded an honorary diploma by Curtis.

Notable faculty

Eleanor Sokoloff was a piano teacher at the institute, beginning during her studies in 1936, and serving until her death in 2020.

Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence

The Dover Quartet is the Penelope P. Watkins Ensemble in Residence at Curtis. Their faculty residency integrates teaching and mentorship, and the resident ensemble will recruit promising young string quartets to nurture a new generation of professional chamber ensembles.

Campus

Gould Rehearsal Hall

Gould Rehearsal Hall A 2,850-square-foot, acoustically designed rehearsal hall accommodates a full orchestra, with state-of-the-art video and audio capabilities.

Field Concert Hall

Field Concert Hall, a 240-seat auditorium with splendid acoustics and facilities for video- and audio-recording, is used for weekly student recitals, faculty and alumni concerts, master classes, and recording sessions. It also houses a 5-manual, 116-rank Aeolian-Skinner organ.

Rock Resource Center

The Rock Resource Center of the Curtis Institute of Music contains more than 100,000 music scores, books, and recordings for study and performance. Comprising the John de Lancie Library and the Curtis Archives, the Rock Resource Center’s mission is to: provide Curtis students, faculty, and staff with the best possible collection of printed music, books, periodicals, recordings, and electronic resources needed to fulfill the school's mission; promote the Rock Resource Center's holdings through forward thinking and open patron service; and preserve and make Curtis’s past accessible to the greater Curtis community. The Curtis Archives comprises largely unpublished materials whose value derives from its collection by, ownership of, or relation to, a Curtis-affiliated individual. Non-Curtis collections of published and unpublished materials, as well as published materials by anyone (Curtis-related or not), can be found in Special Collections. Official Curtis recordings are a part of the library collection.

Notable people

Alumni

Many alumni of the Curtis Institute have gone on to distinguished careers including:

A–L

* Teddy Abrams, Music Director of the Louisville Orchestra * James Adler, composer * Milton Adolphus, composer, arranger, pianist * Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic * Adrian Anantawan, violinist * Reid Anderson, bassist of The Bad Plus *

Shmuel Ashkenasi Shmuel Ashkenasi ( he, שמואל אשכנזי; born January 11, 1941) is an Israeli violinist and teacher. Biography Born in Tel Aviv on January 11, 1941, he began his musical training at the Musical Academy of Tel-Aviv studying with legendary p ...

, first violinist of the Vermeer Quartet * Jenny Oaks Baker, first violinist of the National Symphony Orchestra * Rose Bampton, principal singer at the Metropolitan Opera during the 1930s and 1940s *

Samuel Barber Samuel Osmond Barber II (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was an American composer, pianist, conductor, baritone, and music educator, and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century. The music critic Donal Henahan said, "Probab ...

, composer * Michael Alden Bayard, percussionist and founder/owner of Rhythm Magic * Diane Meredith Belcher, organist *

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

, composer and conductor * Jonathan Biss, pianist * Judith Blegen, soprano * Natalie Bodanya, opera singer *

Jorge Bolet Jorge Bolet (November 15, 1914October 16, 1990) was a Cuban-born American virtuoso pianist and teacher. Among his teachers were Leopold Godowsky, and Moriz Rosenthal – the latter an outstanding pupil of Franz Liszt. Life Bolet was born in Havan ...

, pianist and erstwhile Head of Piano at the Curtis Institute * Gwendolyn Bradley, opera singer * David Brooks, Broadway actor, stage director and producer * Yefim Bronfman, piano *

Anshel Brusilow Anshel Brusilow (August 14, 1928 – January 15, 2018) was an American violinist, conductor, and music educator at the collegiate level. Early life and education Brusilow was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1928, the son of Ukrainian Jewish ...

, violinist, conductor * Alyson Cambridge (born 1980), operatic soprano and classical music, jazz, and American popular song singer * Jenny Q. Chai, piano *

Keith Chapman Keith Chapman (born 1959) is a British television writer and producer, best known as the creator of children's television programmes ''Bob the Builder'' and ''PAW Patrol.'' Biography He worked for Jim Henson International, designing characters ...

, concert organist * Ray Chen, violinist * Cheng Wai, pianist * Shura Cherkassky, pianist * Pearl Chertok, harpist and composer *

Young-Chang Cho Young-Chang Cho (born 1958 in Seoul) is a Korean classical cellist teaching at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany's Ruhr Area. Career Young-Chang Cho was born in Seoul in 1958. He began cello lessons at the age of eight. From 1971, ...

, cellist * Jasmine Choi, flutist *

Nicolas Chumachenco Nicolas Chumachenco or Chumachenko (27 March 1944 – 12 December 2020) was a Polish-born violin soloist, professor, and director of the Queen Sofía Chamber Orchestra. He won the Merit Diploma Konex Award in 1999, as one of the best Bow Instrume ...

, violinist *

Katherine Ciesinski Katherine Ciesinski (born October 13, 1950) is an American mezzo-soprano, stage director, and voice professor. Ciesinski was born to Delaware Sports Hall of Famer Roman Ciesinski and Katherine Hansen Ciesinski. She is the sister of opera singer ...

, mezzo-soprano * Layla Claire, soprano * Tim Cobb, current principal bassist with the Metropolitan Opera * Vinson Cole, operatic tenor *

Ken Cowan Kenneth Andrew Cowan (born December 19, 1974) is a Canadian church and concert organist who currently serves as professor of organ at the Shepherd School of Music of Rice University in Houston, Texas. Biography A native of Thorold, Ontario, he ...

, organist, assistant professor of organ at the Westminster Choir College (Rice University) * John Dalley, violinist, Oberlin String Quartet 1957–59, one of four founding members of Guarneri Quartet 1964–2009; faculty * Di Wu, pianist * John de Lancie, principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra, faculty at Curtis and Director of the school 1977–85 * Joseph de Pasquale, violist, faculty at Curtis 1964-2015 *

Stanley Drucker Stanley Drucker (February 4, 1929 – December 19, 2022) was an American clarinetist. For nearly five decades, he was principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic. According to Guinness World Records, he achieved the longest career as a c ...

, principal clarinetist of the New York Philharmonic * Julius Eastman, pianist, conductor, singer, composer *

Mohammed Fairouz Mohammed Fairouz (born November 1, 1985) is an American composer. He is one of the most frequently performed composers of his generation and has been described by Daniel J. Wakin of ''The New York Times'' as an "important new artistic voice". Fa ...

, composer * Juan Diego Flórez, tenor * Lukas Foss, composer, conductor and pianist * Bianca Garcia, flute, politician * Frank Guarrera, baritone * Anthony Gigliotti, clarinetist, former principal of the Philadelphia Orchestra * Alan Gilbert, conductor, music director of the New York Philharmonic * Max Goberman, conductor *

Richard Goode Richard Goode (born June 1, 1943) is an American classical pianist who is especially known for his interpretations of Mozart and Beethoven. Early life Goode was born in the East Bronx, New York. He studied piano with Elvira Szigeti, Claude Fra ...

, pianist * Valerie Muzzolini Gordon, harpist, principal of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra * Olga Gorelli, composer and pianist * Daron Hagen, composer, conductor, pianist, and stage director * Hilary Hahn, violinist *

Burt Hara Burt Hara was principal clarinetist with the Minnesota Orchestra from 1987 until 2013. He is now the Associate Principal in the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Life and career Hara is a native of California. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1 ...

, clarinetist, principal of the Minnesota Orchestra * Lynn Harrell, cello soloist * Margaret Rosezarian Harris, conductor * Margaret Harshaw, opera singer * David Hayes, Music Director of The Philadelphia Singers and Director of Orchestral and Conducting Studies at Mannes College The New School for Music * Daniel Heifetz, violinist; founder of the Heifetz International Music Institute * Michael Hennagin, composer * Shuler Hensley, singer and actor * Sarah Hicks, conductor * Jennifer Higdon, composer * Lee Hoiby, composer * Stanley Hollingsworth, composer * David Horne, composer and pianist * Michael Houstoun (born 1952), concert pianist * Claire Huangci, pianist * Eugene Istomin, pianist * David N. Johnson, composer, organist and professor *

Arnold Jacobs Arnold Maurice Jacobs (June 11, 1915 – October 7, 1998) was an American tubist who spent most of his career with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He held that position from 1944 until his retirement in 1988. Jacobs was considered one of the fo ...

, former tubist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and teacher of brass pedagogy (deceased) * Paul Jacobs, organist, organ professor at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a Private university, private performing arts music school, conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely ...

* Paavo Järvi (conductor), Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra previously, Deutchekammerphilharmonie Bremen *

Leila Josefowicz Leila Bronia Josefowicz ( ; born October 20, 1977) is an American-Canadian classical violinist. Biography Josefowicz was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. When she was a young child her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where she star ...

, violinist * Judy Kang, violinist * Leonard Kastle, composer, screenwriter, and film director *

Sean Kennard Sean Eric Kennard (born October 3, 1984) is an American classical pianist. Early years Sean Kennard was born in San Diego, California to a Japanese mother and American father. He grew up in Hawaii and his family moved to Philadelphia when he b ...

, pianist * Nina Kennedy, pianist, conductor, and filmmaker *

Chin Kim Chin Kim (born 1957) is a Korean-born American classical violinist, largely educated in the United States through the Juilliard School, and the Curtis Institute of Music. Activities Chin Kim performs extensively throughout the North America, Euro ...

, violinist, soloist, faculty at the Mannes College of Music and Queens College, City University of New York * Jonah Kim, cellist, conductor, composer * Jennifer Koh, violinist *

Paul Kowert Paul Kowert (born July 18, 1986) is an American bassist and composer. His styles include classical, bluegrass, and progressive bluegrass. He is a member of the progressive acoustic quintet Punch Brothers and a founding member of Hawktail, an ac ...

, bassist for Punch Brothers *

Lang Lang Lang Lang (; born 14 June 1982) is a Chinese pianist who has performed with leading orchestras in China, North America, Europe, and elsewhere. Active since the 1990s, he was the first Chinese pianist to be engaged by the Berlin Philharmonic, ...

, pianist * Mark Lawrence, principal trombonist of the San Francisco Symphony * Theodore Lettvin, pianist *

Brenda Lewis Brenda Lewis (March 2, 1921 – September 16, 2017) was an American operatic soprano, musical theatre actress, opera director, and music educator. She enjoyed a 20-year-long collaboration with the New York City Opera (NYCO) with whom she notably ...

, soprano * Ang Li, pianist * Cecile Licad, pianist * Marc Lifschey, oboist *

Joan Lippincott Joan Lippincott (born December 25, 1935) is an American concert organist and former head of the organ department at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. She was born Joan Edna Hult on December 25, 1935, the daughter of Edna and ...

, concert organist, former head of the organ department at the Westminster Choir College * David Ludwig, composer

M–Z

* John Mack, oboist * Amanda Majeski, soprano Chicago Lyric Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Semperoper *

Virginia MacWatters Virginia MacWatters (June 19, 1912 – November 5, 2005) was an American coloratura soprano and university professor. Early life MacWatters was born in Philadelphia on June 19, 1912 to Frederick K. and Idoleein ( Hallowell) MacWatters. She be ...

, soprano * Robert "Bobby" Martin, pianist, saxophonist, vocalist, most notably with

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by nonconformity, free-form improvisation, sound experiments, musical virtuosity and satire of ...

* Leon McCawley, pianist *

Jeremy McCoy Jeremy McCoy (born January 19, 1978) is an American bass guitar player, known for playing on the road and in the studio with several artists around the world. Beginning career Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Jeremy spent his childhood and youth ...

, current assistant principal bassist with the Metropolitan Opera * Anthony McGill, principal clarinetist with the Metropolitan Opera *

Gian Carlo Menotti Gian Carlo Menotti (, ; July 7, 1911 – February 1, 2007) was an Italian composer, librettist, director, and playwright who is primarily known for his output of 25 operas. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept ...

, composer, librettist, and stage director, teacher at the institute * Frank Miller, cellist *

Anna Moffo Anna Moffo (June 27, 1932 – March 9, 2006) was an American opera singer, television personality, and actress. One of the leading lyric-coloratura sopranos of her generation, she possessed a warm and radiant voice of considerable range and agili ...

, soprano * Alan Morrison, organist, faculty, Curtis Institute of Music, Westminster Choir College * Lorne Munroe, cellist, former principal of the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra * Christina Naughton, pianist * Michelle Naughton, pianist * Erik Nielsen, conductor Frankfurt Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Rome Opera, Semperoper * Nokuthula Ngwenyama, solo violist, Indiana University faculty * Lambert Orkis, pianist, Temple University faculty *

Sean Osborn Sean Osborn (born 1966) is a former clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a regular substitute in the clarinet section of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He has been a student of Stanley Hasty, Frank Kowalsky, and Eric Mandat. Cla ...

, clarinet soloist, formerly with the Metropolitan Opera * Eric Owens, bass-baritone * Rob Patterson, Clarinet, University of Virginia, Lyrique-en-Mer, VERGE Ensemble * Janet Perry, soprano *

Vincent Persichetti Vincent Ludwig Persichetti (June 6, 1915 – August 14, 1987) was an American composer, teacher, and pianist. An important musical educator and writer, he was known for his integration of various new ideas in musical composition into his own wo ...

, composer * Eytan Pessen, accompanist and opera director. *

Richard Purvis Richard (Irven) Purvis (August 25, 1913 – December 25, 1994) was an American organist, composer, conductor and teacher. He is especially remembered for his expressive recordings of the organ classics and his own lighter compositions for the inst ...

, composer and organist, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco * André Raphel, conductor of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra *

Gianna Rolandi Gianna Rolandi (August 16, 1952 – June 20, 2021)Bordello, Enzo (June 20, 2021)"Gianna Rolandi 1952–2021" '' Parterre Box''. was an American soprano. She was based at the New York City Opera (NYCO) and enjoyed a 20-year national and internati ...

, soprano, director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's Ryan Opera Center * Ned Rorem, composer, pianist, and writer *

Aaron Rosand Aaron Rosand (born Aaron Rosen; March 15, 1927 – July 9, 2019) was an American violinist. Life and career Born in Hammond, Indiana, he studied with Leon Sametini at the Chicago Musical College and with Efrem Zimbalist at the Curtis Institu ...

, violinist * Leonard Rose, cellist and teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School * Matthew Rose, bass vocalist * Nino Rota, composer and film composer *

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (born January 10, 1961) is an Italian and American classical violinist and teacher. Early life and education Salerno-Sonnenberg was born in Rome, Italy. Her father left when she was three months old. She emigrated with ...

, violinist * Andre-Michel Schub, pianist * Kathryn Selby, pianist * Peter Serkin, pianist and Director of the Curtis Institute * Rinat Shaham, mezzo-soprano * David Shifrin, clarinet soloist, professor at the Yale School of Music * Benjamin Shwartz, conductor * Jacques Singer, conductor * Muriel Smith, mezzo-soprano * Ignat Solzhenitsyn, former music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia * Josef Špaček, violinist, concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic and renowned soloist * Robert Spano, conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra * Leslie Spotz, pianist * Susan Starr, pianist * Benjamin Steinberg, violinist and conductor *

Arnold Steinhardt Arnold Steinhardt (born 1937 in Los Angeles, California) is an American violinist, best known as the first violinist of the Guarneri String Quartet. Steinhardt made his debut with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 14. He studie ...

, violinist * Michael Stern, music director and lead conductor of the Kansas City Symphony *

Mimi Stillman Mimi Stillman is a professional concert flutist. Career Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Stillman became, at the age of 12, the youngest flute player ever admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Julius Baker and Jeffrey ...

, flutist *

Laila Storch Laila Storch (February 28, 1921 – December 2, 2022) was an American oboist. Biography She was the first woman oboist to graduate from the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, where she studied with Marcel Tabuteau. Career Storch was the principal ...

oboist,

Marcel Tabuteau Marcel Tabuteau (2 July 18874 January 1966) was a French-American oboist who is considered the founder of the American school of oboe playing. Life Tabuteau was born in Compiègne, Oise, France, and given a post in the city's municipal wind band ...

's biographer *

Jennifer Stumm Jennifer Stumm is a concert violist, professor of viola at the University of Music and Arts of the City of Vienna and director of the Ilumina Festival in São Paulo. Life Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Stumm studied at the Curtis Institute of ...

, violist * Kay Swift, composer * Michael Tree (née Applebaum), violist, violinist, founding member of the Guarneri Quartet * Henri Temianka, violinist, conductor *

Benita Valente Benita Valente (born October 19, 1934) is an American soprano whose career has encompassed the operatic stage as well as performance of lieder, chamber music and oratorio. She is especially lauded for her interpretations of Mozart and Handel, but ...

, soprano * Yuja Wang, pianist *

Wendy Warner Wendy Warner is a cellist from Chicago, Illinois. She performs both as a soloist with major orchestras and as a chamber musician around the world. Career Wendy Warner is one of the world's leading cellists, praised by Strings magazine for her ...

, cellist * Peter Wiley, cellist with Beaux Arts Trio and Guarneri Quartet, Curtis faculty * Haochen Zhang, pianist, Gold Medalist/First Prize winner of the 2009 Thirteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

Faculty and administrators

Past directors

Past directors of the institute have included: *

(1926–38) – pianist *

Randall Thompson Randall Thompson (April 21, 1899 – July 9, 1984) was an American composer, particularly noted for his choral works. Career Randall attended The Lawrenceville School, where his father was an English teacher. He then attended Harvard University, ...

(1938–40) – composer * Efrem Zimbalist (1941–68) – violinist *

Rudolf Serkin Rudolf Serkin (28 March 1903 – 8 May 1991) was a Bohemian-born Austrian-American pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Beethoven interpreters of the 20th century. Early life, childhood debut, and education Serkin was born in t ...

(1968–76) – pianist * John de Lancie (1977–85) – principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years * Gary Graffman (1986–2006) – pianist, continues on the piano faculty

Current administrators

Roberto Díaz is president and director of the institute. Díaz is also a Curtis alumnus and faculty member. He was principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1996 to 2006 and is a member of the Diaz Trio.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis Institute Of Music 1924 establishments in Pennsylvania Educational institutions established in 1924 Music schools in Pennsylvania Universities and colleges in Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia Private universities and colleges in Pennsylvania