Manhattan School of Music

Since 1917, Manhattan School of Music (MSM) has prepared gifted young musicians to assume their place on the world’s stages.

In selecting MSM, students choose to work with faculty members who are themselves performers with international reputations. They choose to be with students from around the world who come together to create an environment remarkable not just for its intensity, but for genuine friendliness and cooperation. And, of course, they choose New York itself, a major center of music and art in America.

While many fine music conservatories are acknowledged for their ability to develop talents and skills, MSM has a particular combination of strengths that make it an excellent place from which to launch a career.

With extensive performance opportunities on campus as well as the chance to freelance and begin to develop a network of professional contacts, students undergo remarkable changes here: they start to function as professional musicians while they are still in school. It is this powerful convergence of opportunity and training that gives students the chance to go as far as their talent, intelligence, and courage can take them.

Alumni are the School’s best examples of this training. Here are just a few of MSM alumni from 1970 to the present: Laura Albeck, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Robert Anderson, Minnesota Orchestra; Gerald Appleman, New York Philharmonic; Karen Beardsley, soprano, New York City Opera; Elizabeth Burkhardt, Atlanta Symphony; John Carabella, New York Philharmonic; Ron Carter, jazz bassist; Harry Connick Jr., singer; Todd Coolman, jazz bassist; Alison Dalton, Chicago Symphony; Jacqui Danilow, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Garry Dial, jazz pianist; James Dooley, San José Symphony; Don Ehrlich, San Francisco Symphony; Desiree Elsevier, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Mary Ewing, New York Philharmonic; Lauren Flannigan, soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Anna Garzuly, Gewandhaus Orchestra (Leipzig); Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Andrea Gruber, soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Laura Hamilton, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Herbie Hancock, jazz pianist; Stefon Harris, jazz vibraphonist; Louella Hasbun, San José Symphony; Douglas Hedwig, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Frank Hosticka, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Simon James, Seattle Symphony; Richard Jensen, Cincinnati Symphony; Henry Kao, New Jersey Symphony; Gilad Karni, Bamburger Sinfoniker; Kemal Khan, conductor; Christopher Komer, New Jersey Symphony; Dawn Kotoski, soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Morris Lang, New York Philharmonic; Michael Leonhart, Grammy Award winner; Igor Leschishin, Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra; Roy Lewis, Manhattan String Quartet; Douglas Lindsay, Cincinnati Symphony; George Manahan, Music Director, New York City Opera; Marvis Martin, soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Kerri McDermott, New York Philharmonic; Peter McGinnis, jazz trombonist; Sharon Meekins, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Warren Mok, tenor, Berlin Opera; Jane Monheit, jazz vocalist; Jason Moran, jazz pianist; Frank Morelli, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra; June Morganstern, Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra; Elmar Oliveira, concert violinist; Susan Quittmeyer, mezzo-soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Max Roach, jazz artist; Tatiana Ruhland, Dresden Philharmonic; Bruce Smith, Detroit Symphony; Dawn Stahler, Dallas Symphony; James Stubbs, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Stewart Taylor, Israel Philharmonic; Dawn Upshaw, soprano, Metropolitan Opera; Roland Vasquez, jazz drummer; Rosa Vento, soprano, Vienna State Opera; Geraldine Walther, San Francisco Symphony; Bing Wang, Los Angeles Philharmonic; Mark Wells, Canadian Opera Orchestra; Virginia Chen Wells, Toronto Symphony; Thomas Wetzel, Milwaukee Symphony; Timothy Wilson, San Francisco Opera Orchestra; Carol Wincenc, concert flutist; Naomi Youngstein, New Jersey Symphony; and Dolora Zajick, mezzo-soprano, Metropolitan Opera.

Application Procedures

Deadline--freshmen and transfers: December 1. Notification date--freshmen and transfers: April 1. Required: essay, high school transcript, college transcript(s) for transfer students, minimum 2.0 high school GPA, 2 letters of recommendation, audition, list of performance experience. Recommended: minimum 3.0 high school GPA, SAT or ACT test scores, pre-screen (CD for voice, flute, jazz, cello, violin, composition, clarinet, piano, and viola applicants). Auditions held 1 time on campus; videotaped performances are permissible as a substitute for live auditions for applicants living outside North America and for cello, double bass, and tuba applicants.

Manhattan School of Music

Application Procedures

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