The Curtis Institute of Music is a private 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. Sinc ...

. 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 presc ...

, 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 libre ...

, 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 Leopold Anthony Stokowski (18 April 1882 – 13 September 1977) was a British conductor. One of the leading conductors of the early and mid-20th century, he is best known for his long association with the Philadelphia Orchestra and his appearan ...

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 ...

. 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 The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscripti ...

, although composers,

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, j ...

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 Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

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 Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blue ...

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, 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, "Proba ...

, composer *

Michael Alden Bayard Michael Alden Bayard (born November 26, 1958) is an American percussionist, drummer, composer, recording artist, music lecturer, and author. A graduate of the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division and the Curtis Institute of Music who ma ...

, 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 Jewi ...

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

Cheng Wai Praised as the "Piano Poet", Cheng Wai () is a pianist and Steinway Artist from Hong Kong. She is a winner of the Hong Kong Young Music Performer Award of the International Year of Youth and voted as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Perso ...

, pianist * Shura Cherkassky, pianist *

Pearl Chertok Pearl Chertok (June 18, 1918, in Laconia, New Hampshire – August 1, 1981 in White Plains, New York) was an internationally regarded harpist and composer for harp. After studying ballet, piano and flute as a child, Chertok forwent her senior yea ...

, 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 Instrumen ...

, violinist * Katherine Ciesinski, mezzo-soprano *

Layla Claire Layla Claire (born 1982) is a Canadian soprano opera singer. Life and career She was born in Penticton, British Columbia. She is a graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist at the Metropolitan Opera, where she made her debut as Tebaldo in Giuseppe ...

, soprano *

Tim Cobb Timothy Cobb (born March 28, 1964 in Albany, New York) is the American current principal double bassist with the New York Philharmonic. He previously taught at the Peabody Institute of Music, and joined the Manhattan School of Music faculty in 19 ...

, current principal bassist with the Metropolitan Opera * Vinson Cole, operatic tenor * Ken Cowan, organist, assistant professor of organ at the Westminster Choir College (Rice University) *

John Dalley John Dalley (born 3 March 1935 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an American violinist. He was raised in a musical family. His father was an orchestra conductor, violinist, composer, instrumental teacher, and music educator. His mother, from Bloomington, ...

, violinist, Oberlin String Quartet 1957–59, one of four founding members of Guarneri Quartet 1964–2009; faculty * Di Wu, pianist *

John de Lancie John Sherwood de Lancie, Jr. (born March 20, 1948) is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and comedian, best known for his role as Q in various ''Star Trek'' series (1987–present); beginning with '' Star Trek: The Next Generation' ...

, 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 Julius Eastman (October 27, 1940 – May 28, 1990) was an American composer, pianist, vocalist, and performance artist whose work is associated with musical minimalism. He was among the first composers to combine minimalist processes with elements ...

, pianist, conductor, singer, composer * Mohammed Fairouz, composer * Juan Diego Flórez, tenor *

Lukas Foss Lukas Foss (August 15, 1922 – February 1, 2009) was a German-American composer, pianist, and conductor. Career Born Lukas Fuchs in Berlin, Germany in 1922, Foss was soon recognized as a child prodigy. He began piano and theory lessons with Ju ...

, composer, conductor and pianist *

Bianca Garcia Bianca Rose Garcia (born June 1986) is an American politician from the state of New Hampshire. A Republican, she served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives from 2012 through 2014. Biography Garcia graduated from the Curtis Institute ...

, 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, pianist * Valerie Muzzolini Gordon, harpist, principal of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra *

Olga Gorelli Olga Gorelli, (June 14, 1920 Bologna, Italy, died February 18, 2006) was well known for her musical talents as a composer and pianist. Life and career Olga Gorelli, maiden name Gratch, immigrated to the United States in 1937 with her family and s ...

, composer and pianist *

Daron Hagen Daron Aric Hagen ( ; born November 4, 1961) is an American composer, writer, and filmmaker. Biography Early life Daron Hagen was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and grew up in New Berlin, a suburb west of Milwaukee. Hagen was the youngest of ...

, composer, conductor, pianist, and stage director * Hilary Hahn, violinist * Burt Hara, clarinetist, principal of the Minnesota Orchestra *

Lynn Harrell Lynn Harrell (January 30, 1944 – April 27, 2020) was an American classical cellist. Known for the "penetrating richness" of his sound, Harrell performed internationally as a recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with major orchestras o ...

, cello soloist *

Margaret Rosezarian Harris Margaret Rosezarian Harris (September 15, 1943 – March 7, 2000) was an American musician, conductor, composer, and educator, the first African-American woman to conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Detroit Sy ...

, 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 Daniel Alan Heifetz (born November 20, 1948) is an American concert violinist and pedagogue best known as the Founder of the Heifetz International Music Institute. His career has been focused on education and the art of communication through pe ...

, violinist; founder of the Heifetz International Music Institute * Michael Hennagin, composer *

Shuler Hensley Shuler Paul Hensley (born March 6, 1967) is an American singer and actor. Early life Hensley was born in Atlanta, Georgia. The youngest of three children, Hensley grew up in Marietta, Georgia. His father, Sam P. Hensley Jr., is a former Georgia T ...

, singer and actor *

Sarah Hicks Sarah Hatsuko Hicks (born ) is a Japanese-born American orchestral conductor. Since 2009, she has been the Principal Conductor of Live at Orchestra Hall for the Minnesota Orchestra, and also serves as Staff Conductor at the Curtis Institute of Mu ...

, conductor *

Jennifer Higdon Jennifer Elaine Higdon (born December 31, 1962) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. She has received many awards, including the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Music for her Violin Concerto and three Grammy Award for Best Contemp ...

, composer * Lee Hoiby, composer * Stanley Hollingsworth, composer * David Horne, composer and pianist * Michael Houstoun (born 1952), concert pianist *

Claire Huangci Claire Huangci (born March 22, 1990) is an American classical pianist. She lives in Frankfurt am Main. Early life Huangci () was born in Rochester, New York to Chinese immigrant parents, both scientists. Claire started playing piano at the age ...

, pianist * Eugene Istomin, pianist *

David N. Johnson David N. Johnson (born June 28, 1922, San Antonio, Texas; died August 2, 1987 in Tempe, Arizona) was an American organist, composer, educator, choral clinician, and lecturer. He studied organ and composition at Curtis Institute of Music (1940� ...

, 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 f ...

, 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 performing arts 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 regarded as one of the most ...

Paavo Järvi Paavo Järvi (; born 30 December 1962) is an Estonian-American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn, Estonia, to Liilia Järvi and the Estonian conductor Neeme Järvi. His siblings, Kristjan Järvi and Maarika Järvi, are also m ...

(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 sta ...

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

Nina Kennedy Nina Kennedy (born 5 April 1997) is an Australian athlete who holds the national record in the pole vault. She competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and won gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Early ...

, 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 Jonah Kim (born June 8, 1988), is a South Korean cellist based in the United States. He has been referred to as "the next Yo-Yo Ma" and is known for his "technical finesse" and "romantic and ardent" playing style. Kim made his debut in 2002 with W ...

, cellist, conductor, composer * Jennifer Koh, violinist * Paul Kowert, 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 Theodore Lettvin (October 29, 1926 – August 24, 2003) was an American concert pianist and conductor. He was one of the four children of Solomon and Fannie Lettvin, two Jewish-Ukrainian immigrants who settled in Chicago. Neurophysiologist and ...

, pianist * Brenda Lewis, soprano * Ang Li, pianist *

Cecile Licad Cecile Buencamino Licad (born 11 May 1961) is a Filipina classical pianist. She was born in Manila. Awards * In 1981 Licad received the Leventritt Competition Gold Medal. * Her recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 and Saint-Saëns' Piano C ...

, pianist * Marc Lifschey, oboist * Joan Lippincott, concert organist, former head of the organ department at the Westminster Choir College * David Ludwig, composer

M–Z

* John Mack, oboist *

Amanda Majeski Amanda Majeski (October 20, 1984) is an American operatic soprano. Early life Amanda Majeski was born in Gurnee, Illinois, near Chicago. She studied ballet and learned how to play the piano and the cello as a child. Majeski attended Carmel Cath ...

, soprano Chicago Lyric Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Semperoper * Virginia MacWatters, 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 A ...

Leon McCawley Leon McCawley (born 12 July 1973) is a British classical pianist. He studied with Heather Slade-Lipkin at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and with Eleanor Sokoloff at The Curtis Institute of Music in the United States, and latterly ...

, 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 i ...

, 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 Frank Miller (born January 27, 1957) is an American comic book writer, penciller and inker, novelist, screenwriter, film director, and producer known for his comic book stories and graphic novels such as his run on ''Daredevil'' and subsequen ...

, 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 Lorne Munroe (November 24, 1924 – May 4, 2020) was an American cellist.Gibson, Ronald and Winters, Kenneth"Munroe, Lorne*, ''Encyclopedia of Music in Canada''. Accessed March 12, 2009 He was principal cellist of the Philadelphia Orchestra from ...

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

Janet Perry Janet Perry (born December 27, 1947, Minneapolis) is an American operatic soprano. In 1959, aged 11, she was seen in a stage-version of '' The Wizard of Oz'' at the St Paul Civic Opera. Following high school, she matriculated at the Curtis Institu ...

, soprano * Vincent Persichetti, composer *

Eytan Pessen Eytan Pessen (born 30 August 1961 in Haifa, Israel) is a pianist and voice teacher, currently at the Opera houses of Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Vienna (Volksoper), Zürich and international festivals. He was former opera director of the Sem ...

, 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 Ned Rorem (October 23, 1923 – November 18, 2022) was an American composer of contemporary classical music and writer. Best known for his art songs, which number over 500, Rorem was the leading American of his time writing in the genre. Althoug ...

, 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 Leonard Joseph Rose (July 27, 1918 – November 16, 1984) was an American cellist and pedagogue. Biography Rose was born in Washington, D.C.; his parents were Jewish immigrants, his father from Bragin, Belarus, and his mother from Kyiv, ...

, cellist and teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School * Matthew Rose, bass vocalist *

Nino Rota Giovanni Rota Rinaldi (; 3 December 1911 – 10 April 1979), better known as Nino Rota (), was an Italian composer, pianist, conductor and academic who is best known for his film scores, notably for the films of Federico Fellini and Luchino Vis ...

, composer and film composer * Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violinist * Andre-Michel Schub, pianist * Kathryn Selby, pianist * Peter Serkin, pianist and Director of the Curtis Institute *

Rinat Shaham Rinat Shaham ( he, רינת שחם) is an Israeli born mezzo-soprano who has received numerous accolades for her international operatic, concert and recital performances. Life and career Shaham was born in Haifa, Israel; to a musical family. She ...

, mezzo-soprano * David Shifrin, clarinet soloist, professor at the Yale School of Music * Benjamin Shwartz, conductor *

Jacques Singer Jacques Singer (May 9, 1910 – August 11, 1980) was an American virtuoso violinist, symphony orchestra conductor, and music educator who flourished from about 1925 until a few months before his death in 1980. Career Education Jakob Singer was ...

, conductor * Muriel Smith, mezzo-soprano * Ignat Solzhenitsyn, former music director of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia *

Josef Špaček Josef Špaček (7 August 1927 – 11 July 2004) was a Czechoslovak communist politician who was an important member of the government during the 1968 reformist period known as the Prague Spring. He was appointed to the Central Committee of t ...

, violinist, concertmaster of the Czech Philharmonic and renowned soloist *

Robert Spano Robert Spano ( ; born 7 May 1961, Conneaut, Ohio) is an American conductorDavidson, Justin. "CLASSICAL MUSIC: Looking for Magic: Mixing visuals and language into a performance is just part of conductor Robert Spano's pursuit of orchestral risk" ...

, conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra *

Leslie Spotz Leslie Spotz is an American pianist. She is Professor of piano at Tarleton State University. Biography Spotz studied, as a full-scholarship recipient, at the Curtis Institute of Music with Mieczysław Horszowski, who was associated with Pablo Ca ...

, pianist *

Susan Starr Susan Starr (born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American pianist. Career Susan began her studies with Eleanor Sokoloff at age four. Starr began her studies at the Curtis Institute of Music at the age of seven where she studied with Rudolf Ser ...

, pianist * Benjamin Steinberg, violinist and conductor * Arnold Steinhardt, violinist *

Michael Stern Michael Stern may refer to: * Michael Stern (conductor) (born 1959), American musician * Michael Stern (educator) (1922–2002), founder of the Waterford Kamhlaba United World College * Michael Stern (journalist) (1910–2009), American journalist ...

, 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 principa ...

oboist, Marcel Tabuteau'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 Michael Tree (February 19, 1934 – March 30, 2018), born Michael Applebaum, was an American violist. Biography Tree was born in Newark, New Jersey. His principal studies were with Efrem Zimbalist on violin and viola at the Curtis Institu ...

(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 Yuja Wang (; born February 10, 1987) is a Chinese classical pianist. She was born in Beijing, began studying piano there at age six, and went on to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Curtis Institute of Music in Phil ...

, pianist * Wendy Warner, 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 (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 ...

(1968–76) – pianist *

(1977–85) – principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years *

Gary Graffman Gary Graffman (born October 14, 1928) is an American classical pianist, teacher and administrator. Early life Graffman was born in New York City to Russian-Jewish parents. Having started piano at age 3, Graffman entered the Curtis Institute of M ...

(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