Manhattan School of Music will confer honorary Doctor of Musical Arts degrees on five distinguished figures in the performing arts at its annual Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 21 at 1:00 PM at The Riverside Church in New York City. Among the honorees are mezzo-soprano and MSM alumna J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09), former National Endowment for the Arts chairperson Jane {…}
(Photo credit: Iwan Baan) The Perelman Performing Arts Center announces its 2026-27 lineup. This article only features classical vocal concerts. First up is the song cycle, “The Puerto Rico Experiment” by Angélica Négron with Balún and Roomful of Teeth. This is a Democracy Cycle world premiere song cycle commission. Performance Dates: January 16-23, 2027 Timothy Long presents the “North American Indigenous {…}
Conductor Mei-Ann Chen has been appointed Director of Orchestral Activities and Chair of the Conducting Program at the Manhattan School of Music, effective July 1, 2026. In her new role, Chen, who takes over George Manahan, will provide artistic and strategic leadership for the MSM orchestra program, teach and mentor conducting students, and regularly conduct the MSM Symphony Orchestra. “It {…}
The faculty union at New York City’s Manhattan School of Music’s Precollege division has voted for a strike authorization. In 2024, the school’s precollege faculty launched a petition calling for their salary to be brought in line with the industry standard for pre-college music teaching in NYC. The petition garnered nearly 2,000 signatures. According to the petition, staff pay rates {…}
Manhattan School of Music is set to present Viktor Ullmann and Peter Kien’s “Der Kaiser von Atlantis.” The company will be presented on April 9 and 10 at the MSM Opera Theatre. Djordje Nesic conducts and will be directed by John De los Santos. “Der Kaiser von Atlantis” was written in 1942 by Ullmann and Kein while imprisoned in the {…}
The Manhattan School of Music has unveiled its 2023-24 vocal and opera season. The company will present the chamber opera “Evidence of Things Not Seen.” Carleen Graham is the director and dramaturg while Jeanne-Minette Cilliers will be the music director and vocal coach. Performance Dates: Oct. 22 & 23, 2023 Audiences will get a chance to check out Opera Scenes from {…}
Music Conservatories across North America are joining forces to put on a concert in support of Ukraine. The Virtual showcase, which will be hosted by The Violin Channel on April 16, 2022 at 12 p.m. PT / 3 p.m. ET, will feature participation from such institutions as the Cleveland Institute of Music, Colburn School, Curtis Institute of Music, Manhattan School {…}
The Manhattan School of Music has appointed two former alumni and current Met Opera staff members to join its faculty. Thomas Lausmann, who is the Met Opera Director of Music Administration, and Bryan Wagorn, Met Opera Assistant conductor, will join the collaborative piano faculty immediately. They join Myra Huang, the Head of Music of the Met Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist {…}
(Credit: Rebecca Fay) Opera star Isabel Leonard is joining the Manhattan School of Music’s faculty. Leonard, who has a prominent international career that has taken her to such stages as the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, The Dallas Opera, Glyndebourne, Dutch National Opera, Royal Opera House, and Vienna State Opera, among many others, is a recipient of an honorary doctorate {…}
The Manhattan School of Music has reopened its College Division performance season to public audiences. The conservatory reopened on Nov. 11, for the first time since March 2020 when performances were suspended due to the pandemic. The school had been performing but only to MSM’s on-campus community. With the reopening to the public, MSM will require all visitors to show {…}
Manhattan School of Music has announced its 2021-22 Class of Artist Scholars. The scholars will open space for dialogue on issues of racial equity, inclusion, and representation by relating their own experiences. This year’s 10 Scholars represent esteemed and influential artists, activists, educators, and arts leaders. Comprising this year’s class is Justine Chen, composer, violinist, and educator; Khori Dastoor, General {…}