The Creation in 1921

The Fontainebleau Schools started with the involvement of the United States in the First World War. At the instigation of General Pershing -- who wished to improve the quality of US military band music -- Walter Damrosch, then conductor of the New York Philharmonic, was asked to organize a school in Chaumont (where US troops were headquartered) led by composer and teacher Francis Casadesus. Photo portrait from May 1917 New York Times John Joseph Black Jack Pershing (September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was a soldier in the United States Army. ... Walter Johannes Damrosch (born in Breslau, Prussia, January 30, 1862; died in New York City, December 22, 1950) was an American symphony conductor. ... The New York Philharmonic is the oldest active symphony orchestra in the United States, organized during 1842. ...

The American Conservatory

After the war, Walter Damrosch and Francis Casadesus decided to continue this successful operation. With the full support of French authorities, as well as that of composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor (who became its first director), the American Conservatory --as it was called-- was granted permission to open in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau. The American Conservatory intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians. Walter Johannes Damrosch (born in Breslau, Prussia, January 30, 1862; died in New York City, December 22, 1950) was an American symphony conductor. ... Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor (February 21, 1844 – March 12, 1937) was a French organist, composer and teacher. ...

Since 1921, the teaching staff has included renowned faculty such as: the trio Pasquier, Maurice Ravel, Camille Saint-Saens, Marcel Dupré, Robert and Gaby Casadesus, Charles-Marie Widor, Henri Dutilleux, Gilbert Amy, Betsy Jolas, André Boucourechliev, Pierre Amoyal, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Igor Stravinsky, Arthur Rubinstein, and Leonard Bernstein. Nadia Boulanger, a young composition/harmony professor, was among this distinguished faculty from the beginning. Her energy, knowledge, and her spirit guided the school until 1979. Maurice Ravel in 1912. ... Charles Camille Saint-Sa ns (IPA: [ʃaʁl. ... Marcel Dupré Marcel Dupré (May 3, 1886–May 30, 1971), was a French organist, pianist, composer, and pedagogue. ... Robert Casadesus (April 7, 1899 – September 19, 1972) was a French pianist and composer. ... Gaby Casadesus (August 9, 1901 - November 12, 1999) was a pianist and teacher born in Marseilles, France. ... Charles-Marie Jean Albert Widor (February 21, 1844 – March 12, 1937) was a French organist, composer and teacher. ... Henri Dutilleux (born January 22, 1916 in Angers, France) is one of the most important French composers of the second half of the 20th century, producing work in the tradition of Maurice Ravel, Claude Debussy, and Albert Roussel, but in a style distinctly his own. ... Gilbert Amy (born 1936 in Paris, France) is a French composer and conductor. ... Betsy Jolas (born August 5, 1926) is a French composer. ... André Boucourechliev (July 28, 1925 – November 13, 1997) was a French composer of Bulgarian origin. ... Sviatoslav Teofilovich Richter (Russian: , Svjatoslav Teofilovič Rikhter; March 20 [O.S. March 7] 1915 – August 1, 1997) was a Soviet pianist, widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century. ... Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (Мстисла́в Леопо́льдович Ростропо́вич) (born March 27, 1927) is a Russian cellist and conductor, considered to be... Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (Russian: Игорь Фёдорович Стравинский, Igor Fëdorovič Stravinskij) (June 17, 1882 – April 6, 1971) was a Russian composer, considered by many in both the West and his native land to be the most influential composer of 20th-century music. ... For the 19th century Russian pianist and composer, see Anton Rubinstein Arthur Rubinstein photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1937 Arthur Rubinstein (January 28, 1887 – December 20, 1982) was a Polish pianist who is widely considered as one of the greatest piano virtuosos of the 20th Century. ... Leonard Bernstein (IPA pronunciation: )[1] (August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, and pianist. ... Nadia Boulanger (September 16, 1887 – October 22, 1979) was an influential French composer, conductor, and music professor. ...

Under such renowned guidance, the American Conservatory influenced many of the best American musicians such as: Aaron Copland, Virgil Thomson, Louise Talma, Samuel Dushkin, Elliott Carter, Beveridge Webster, Kenton Coe and many others. Aaron Copland Aaron Copland (November 14, 1900 – December 2, 1990) was an American composer of concert and film music. ... Virgil Thomson, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1947 Virgil Thomson (November 25, 1896 - September 30, 1989) was an American composer from Missouri, whose rural background gave a sense of place in his compositions. ... Louise Talma (Octoboer 31, 1906 in Arcachon, France - August 13, 1996] in Saratoga Springs, NY) was a composer. ... Elliott Cook Carter, Jr. ...

For a full history of the school, see Leonard, Kendra. The Conservatoire Americain: a History, Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press, 2007 [1]

The Ecole des Beaux-Arts at Fontainebleau

The Ecole des Beaux-Arts at Fontainebleau, founded in 1923, adopted the same mission as the music conservatory in the spheres of painting, architecture, and sculpture. Over time, the program has focused its development exclusively to architecture, taking advantage of its location and the rich history of architectural education in France. Inspired by setting of the Chateau and its magnificent formal gardens, its faculty has included prestigious international names in architecture, including F. Candela, A. Cuny, B. Doshi, Sheila Hicks, L. Kroll, R. Licata, R. Péchére, B. Rasica, Paolo Soleri, J. Soltan, A. Van Eyck, Y. Wohlert. Past directors of the school are J. Carlu, A. Remondet, P. Devinoy, B. de la Tour d'Auvergne, M. Tournon-Branly, and J.L. Nouvian. Sheila Hicks is an American fiber artist (born in Hastings, Nebraska in 1934) who presents textile art as an experience situated between sculpture and performance. ... Paolo Soleri (Born in Turin, Italy on June 21, 1919) was awarded his Ph. ...

External links

Official Website

Website dedicated to the academic study of the Conservatoire, its instructors and students.