Eastman School of Music

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Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music logo
Established 1921
Type Private
Dean Jamal Rossi
Location Rochester, New York, USA
Campus Urban
Website http://www.esm.rochester.edu

The Eastman School of Music (also known more simply as The Eastman School, Eastman, or ESM) is a music conservatory based in the United States. The school is considered one of the most prestigious music institutions in the world. Centrally located downtown in the metropolitan city of Rochester, New York, the Eastman School is the professional school of music within the University of Rochester. Along with The Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music, the Eastman School has achieved international prominence through its commitment to the highest standards of musical leadership and excellence. The school was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman, founder of the Eastman Kodak Company.

Today, there are more than 900 students enrolled in the collegiate division of the Eastman School (approximately 500 undergraduate and 400 graduate students), and about 1,000 students are enrolled the Eastman School’s Community Music School. Students come from almost every state across the United States, and approximately 25% of students are from foreign countries. Each year about 260 students enroll (approximately 135 freshmen and 125 graduate students) selected from more than 2,000 applicants.

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[edit] History

Alf Klingenberg, a Norwegian pianist of great distinction, was the school's first director. He was, however, succeeded by composer Howard Hanson in 1924. Hanson had an enormous impact on the development of the school, holding his post for decades and continuing his involvement at Eastman even after his retirement.

[edit] Rankings

In the two most recent surveys conducted by U.S. News & World Report (2004 and 1997), the Eastman School was ranked first among graduate school music programs in the United States. Prior to both the 2004 and 1997 rankings, in 1994, Eastman tied with The Juilliard School and the Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University among the top graduate programs in music.

According to the most recent U.S. News & World Report rankings of speciality areas among music schools in the United States, Eastman was given the following ratings:

  • 1st in music education
  • 1st in composition
  • 2nd in conducting
  • 4th in opera/vocal performance
  • 2nd in instrumental performance
  • 2nd in piano/organ/keyboard
  • 2nd in jazz

[edit] Administration

Since the founding of the Eastman School of Music in 1921, the school has been directed by five men. Alfred Klingenberg, a Norwegian pianist of great distinction, served as the school’s first director from 1921 to 1923. After a one-year interim under Acting Director Raymond Wilson, the young American composer and conductor Howard Hanson was appointed director of the school in 1924. Dr. Hanson is credited for transforming the Eastman School into one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the world. Upon his retirement in 1964, after serving as director of the school for 40 years, Hanson was then succeeded by conductor Walter Hendl. Hendl served as director from 1964 to 1972, and was then succeeded by pianist and musicologist Robert Freeman who served from 1972 to 1996. Associate Director Daniel Patrylak served as the acting director from the time of Mr. Hendl’s resignation (May 1972) until Robert Freeman assumed the position in July 1973. Following the resignation of Robert Freeman in 1996, James Undercofler was then appointed Director and Dean of the Eastman School, and held that position until he resigned in 2006 to accept the position of C.E.O. and President of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Dr. Jamal J. Rossi, an Eastman alumus, was appointed Interim Dean of the Eastman School in April 2006. Currently the school is engaged in an extensive national search process to identify the successor to former Dean James Undercofler.

  • Alfred Klingenberg (Director, 1921 - 1923)
  • Raymond Wilson (Acting Director, 1923 – 1924)
  • Howard Hanson (Director, 1924 – 1964)
  • Walter Hendl (Director, 1964 – 1972)
  • Daniel Patrylak (Acting Director, 1972 – 1973)
  • Robert Freeman (Director, 1973 – 1996)
  • James Undercofler (Acting Director, 1996 – 1997; Director, 1997 – 2006)
  • Jamal Rossi (Acting Director, April 2006 – present)

[edit] Campus and Facilities

The Eastman School occupies parts of five buildings in downtown Rochester, New York. The main hall includes the newly-renovated 3,094-seat Eastman Theater, the 455-seat Kilbourn Hall, and offices for faculty.

The Eastman Theatre opened on September 2, 1922 as a center for music, dance, and silent film with orchestral and organ accompaniment. Today, the 3,094-seat theatre is the primary concert hall for the Eastman School's larger ensembles, including its orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, and chorale. Also, the Eastman Opera Theatre presents fully staged operatic productions in the theatre each spring. It also is the principal performance venue for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. A $5 million renovation of the theatre was completed in October 2004. The Theatre is located at 60 Gibbs Street, on the corner of Main and Gibbs Street.

The Sibley Music Library—the largest academic music library in North America—is located across the street from the main hall. Hiram Watson Sibley founded the library in 1904 using the fortune he made as first president of Western Union. It moved to its current location in 1989, and occupies 45,000 square feet (4,000 m²) on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th floors of the Miller Center, formerly known as Eastman Place. The Sibley Music Library currently holds almost 750,000 items, ranging from 11th century codices to the latest compositions and recordings. Considered among its jewels are the original drafts of Debussy's impressionistic masterpiece, "La Mer". This is the largest private collection of musical materials in the Americas.

The Student Living Center, which is located at 100 Gibbs Street, is the dormitory building of the Eastman School of Music. In 1991, the new building was opened at the corner of Main and Gibbs Streets, replacing the University Avenue dormitories built nearly 70 years earlier. It is a four-story quadrangle and 16-story tower surrounding a landscaped inner courtyard. The majority of students enrolled in the undergraduate program live on campus.

[edit] Degrees offered

The school offers Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degrees in:

  • Applied Music (Performance)
  • Composition
  • Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media
  • Music Education
  • Musical Arts
  • Theory

Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees are offered in:

  • Composition
  • Ethnomusicology
  • Music Education
  • Music Theory Pedagogy
  • Musicology (combined MA/PhD program)
  • Theory (combined MA/PhD program)

Master of Music (M.M.) degrees are offered in:

  • Composition
  • Conducting (Choral)
  • Conducting (Orchestral)
  • Early Music (Emphasis in Historical Plucked Instruments)
  • Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media (performance emphasis or writing emphasis)
  • Music Education
  • Opera (Performance)
  • Opera (Stage Directing)
  • Performance and Literature (instrumental, vocal, or woodwind doubling)
  • Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees are offered in:

  • Composition
  • Music Education
  • Musicology
  • Theory

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degrees are offered in:

  • Composition
  • Conducting (choral, orchestral, or wind ensemble)
  • Early Music, Emphasis in Historical Plucked Instruments
  • Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media
  • Music Education
  • Performance and Literature (instrumental or vocal)
  • Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music

[edit] Faculty

The Eastman School has more than 130 faculty members that include internationally renouned performers, composers, conductors, scholars, and educators. In addition, many highly acclaimed musicians and scholars visit the school each year to give master classes and guest lectures or to serve as visiting faculty members. For a full list of faculty members, see http://www.esm.rochester.edu/faculty/

[edit] Alumni

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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