The Hochschule für Musik und Theater München (University of Music and Performing Arts Munich) is one of the most respected traditional vocational universities in Germany specialising in music and the performing arts. The seat of the Hochschule is the former Führerbau of the NSDAP, located at Arcisstraße 12, on the eastern side of the Königsplatz. Teaching and events also take place in the locations Luisenstraße 37a, Gasteig, Prinzregententheater (theatre studies) and Wilhelmstraße (ballet). Since 2008 the Richard Strauss Conservatory (de), until then independent, has been part of the Hochschule.
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First founded in 1846 as a private institute, it was transformed in 1867 by King Ludwig II into the Royal Bavarian Music School at the suggestion of Wagner. It was financed privately by Ludwig until it received the status of state institution in 1874. It has since been renamed several times; to the Royal Academy of the Art of Music, the State Academy of Music, and the Munich Music College. Its original location, the Odeonsgebäude, was destroyed in 1944.
The current building was constructed for the Nazi party by Paul Troost; it was called the Führerbau. Neville Chamberlain and Adolf Hitler signed the Munich Agreement in this building in 1938. Hitler's office, on the second floor above the entryway, is now a rehearsal room, but has been changed little since it was built.
The 1974 Bavarian University Act placed the Munich college, as well as all other Bavarian music colleges, on an educational par with art colleges.
The University of Music and Performing Arts Munich offers study programmes in performing and teaching in all music subjects and ballet as well as joint study programmes with the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding covering operatic performance, acting, directing, musicals, make-up for the theatre and lighing design.