The Curtis Institute of Music is a music school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that offers courses of study leading to a performance Diploma, Bachelor of Music, Master of Music in Opera and Professional Studies Certificate in Opera. A music school or conservatory is an institution dedicated to teaching the art of music, including playing of musical instruments, musical composition, musicianship, music history and music theory. ... Independence Hall Philadelphia (sometimes referred to as Philly or the City of Brotherly Love) is the sixth-most-populous city in the United States and the most populous city in the state of Pennsylvania, occupying all of Philadelphia County. ...

It was originally established in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, to some extent as a training ground for orchestral players to fill the ranks of the Philadelphia Orchestra, much like the Vienna Hochschule fur Musik and the Vienna Philharmonic, although pianists, singers, organists and composers were offered courses of study from its opening that year. The Philadelphia Orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the United States major orchestras and one of the finest in the world. ... The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (in German: Wiener Philharmoniker) is the best known orchestra in Austria and one of Europes major ensembles. ...

All pupils attend on full scholarship but entrance is very difficult. Besides singers (who may study voice or opera), pianists, organists, conductors and composers, only enough students are admitted to fill a single orchestra.

Past directors of Curtis have included pianist Josef Hofmann, composer Randall Thompson, violinist Efram Zimbalist, Sr. (father of the actor and second husband of the founder), pianist Rudolph Serkin, John de Lancie, Sr. (principal oboe of the Philadelphia Orchestra for many years), and the current President/Director, Gary Graffman who was appointed in 1995. Mr. Graffman will retire as President/Director at the end of the 2005-2006 school year, continuing on the piano faculty. His successor is Roberto Diaz, principal violist of the Philadelphia Orchestra and member of the Diaz Trio, an alumnus and faculty member. Rudolph Serkin(pianist; born March 28, 1903, Eger, Bohemia; died May 9, 1991) - also spelled as Rudolf Serkin. ... Gary Graffman was born in 1928 in New York City to Russian parents. ...

Many of its alumni have gone on to distinguished careers, Among the many graduates are Harold Bennett (d. 1985), principal flutist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; pianist Richard Goode, violinist Hilary Hahn, conductor Leonard Bernstein, soprano Benita Valente, soprano, soprano Anna Moffo, as well as pianist extraordinaire Lang Lang. American composers Samuel Barber and Gian Carlo Menotti also graduated here, and more recent composers of note include alumna and faculty member Jennifer Higdon. The Metropolitan Opera is located at Lincoln Center in New York, New York. ... This article is about the modern musical instrument. ... The violin is a stringed musical instrument that has four strings tuned a fifth apart. ... Conducting is the act of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. ... Bernstein with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, at 1974 Charles Ives Centenary Concert in Danbury, Connecticut. ... This article is about singers. ... The American soprano Anna Moffo (born June 27, 1932) is a famous opera singer active in the 1960s. ... Lang Lang (郎朗,pinyin: Láng Lǎng) (b. ... Samuel Barber, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1944 Samuel Osborne Barber (March 9, 1910 – January 23, 1981) was a United States composer of classical music best known for his Adagio for Strings. ... Gian Carlo Menotti, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1944 Gian Carlo Menotti (born July 7, 1911, Cadegliano, Italy) is an Italian-born American composer. ...

External link

• Curtis Institute website (http://www.curtis.edu/)