Set in New York City, the Manhattan School of Music is one of the premier private music conservatories in the nation, with nearly 275 faculty members dedicated to shaping over 800 students from 40 countries into world-class musicians.
The Manhattan School of Music offers degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, with majors in all orchestral instruments, voice, piano, accompanying, composition, saxophone, guitar, organ, conducting, and jazz. Its Precollege Division instructs pre-college-age children and young adults on Saturdays, and its various special programs offer interesting and unique ways to learn about music in a variety of formats.
At Manhattan School of Music, performance is not simply a goal for students; it is already an integral part of their lives. With over 400 concerts, recitals, and master classes each year, the School resonates with the energy of working musicians. With extensive performance opportunities on campus and the chance to freelance and begin to develop a network of professional contacts, students are encouraged to think and function as professional musicians while they are still in school.
The Manhattan School of Music is a music conservatory located in New York City that offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition. It is one of the premiere music conservatories in the world and features a faculty of 275 and over 800 students from 40 countries. It is rated by the U.S. News & World Report as having one of the lowest acceptance rates among undergraduate music programs in the United States. In addition to this, the school also has a pre-college division which trains over 500 gifted young students during the academic year and the summer.
Founded in 1917, the school is located on Claremont Avenue in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City, adjacent to the campus of Columbia University, where it has been since 1969. Many of the students live in the school's residence hall, Andersen Hall. At the present time, 75 percent of the students come from outside New York State and 47 percent from outside the United States.
The School was founded in 1917–1918 by Janet D. Schenck, pianist and philanthropist, as the Neighborhood Music School. It was located in a brownstone building on New York City's Upper East Side. Pablo Casals and Harold Bauer were among the first of many distinguished artists who offered guidance to the School. Eventually, its reputation for excellence extended throughout the greater metropolitan area, and its name was changed to Manhattan School of Music.
In 1943, the artistic and academic growth of the School resulted in a charter amendment to grant the bachelor of music degree. Two subsequent amendments authorized the offering in 1947 of the master of music degree and, in 1974, the degree of doctor of musical arts. In 1956, Dr. Schenck retired and John Brownlee, noted Metropolitan Opera baritone, was appointed director, a title later revised to president. President Brownlee initiated the idea of relocating the School to the Morningside Heights neighborhood; his death occurred only months before his efforts were realized. In 1969, George Schick, Metropolitan Opera conductor, accompanist, and distinguished opera coach, succeeded Brownlee as president and led the School's move to its present location. He created a wonderful opera program, while all other major school functions are managed by Senior Director Stanley Bednar.
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| Percent of Students International: | 27% |
| On-Campus Housing Available: | Yes |
| Percent of Students Living On-Campus: | 43% |
| Freshman Students Required to Live on Campus: | Yes |
| Tuition & Fees (undergraduate) | Expenses | ||
Published Tuition and Fees: |
$ 26,460 | ||
Average Tuition for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 26,000 | ||
Required Fees for Full-Time Undergrads: |
$ 460 | ||
| Financial Aid | Avg. Amount Received | % of Students Receiving Aid | |
Federal Grants: |
$ 4,375 | 23% | |
State and Local Grants: |
$ 2,280 | 18% | |
Institutional Grants: |
$ 12,232 | 46% | |
Student Loans: |
$ 4,174 | 51% | |
Any Aid: |
80% |
| Acceptance Rate: | 33% (Highly Selective) |
| Application Fee: | $ 100.00 |
| Formal Demonstration of Competencies: | Required |
| High School Diploma or Equivalent: | Recommended |
| High School GPA: | Required |
| High School Rank: | Not Required |
| High School Record: | Required |
| Recommendations: | Required |
| TOEFL: | Required |
| Test Scores: | Recommended |
