Manhattan School of Music was founded between 1917 and 1918 by the pianist and philanthropist Janet D. Schenck. It was initially known as the "Neighborhood Music School". Initially located at the Union Settlement Association on East 104th Street in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood, the school moved into a brownstone building at East 105th Street.[4]Pablo Casals and Harold Bauer were among the first of many distinguished artists who offered guidance to the school. Eventually, 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 Metropolitan OperabaritoneJohn Brownlee 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 opera coach, succeeded Brownlee as president and led the school's move to its present location. He created the opera program, while all other major school functions were managed by Senior Director Stanley Bednar.[citation needed]
John O. Crosby, founder and general director of the Santa Fe Opera, was appointed president in 1976. He was followed by Gideon W. Waldrop, who was appointed in 1986, and Peter C. Simon in 1989. On July 1, 1992, Marta Casals Istomin was named president, a position which she held until October 2005 when she retired.
Labor Strife
There has been a history of tension between Manhattan School of Music's teaching faculty and the administration. After a contentious union certification battle in 2009, the Precollege Faculty established ARTS-MSM,[5] affiliated with New York State United Teachers.[6][7] In 2012, nearly three years after the formation of the union, Manhattan School of Music had still not reached a collective bargaining agreement with Precollege faculty, leading to a leafletting campaign during the conservatory's audition period[8] that was accompanied by Scabby, the large inflatable rat frequently displayed by New York City labor unions to draw attention to unscrupulous employers.[9] In 2024, the administration has once again failed to reach a collective bargaining agreement with the union, refusing ARTS-MSM's request for wage compensation that meets industry standards and closes the significant gap between current compensation rates relative to peer programs such as Mannes Prep and The Juilliard School's Preparatory Division.[10]
Manhattan School contains multiple performance spaces, each dedicated to separate ensemble requirements. The largest is Neidorff-Karpati Hall, where all orchestral and large jazz ensemble concerts are held. Major renovation of the Hall was completed in November 2018.[13]
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