Eastman School of Music facts for kids
Eastman at night
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| Type | Private music school |
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| Established | 1921 |
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Parent institution
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University of Rochester |
| Dean | Kate Sheeran |
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Academic staff
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130 |
| Students | 950 |
| Undergraduates | 500 |
| Postgraduates | 450 |
| Location |
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New York
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United States
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| Campus | Urban |
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The Eastman School of Music is a famous music school that is part of the University of Rochester. It's a private university located in Rochester, New York, in the United States. A well-known businessman and generous helper, George Eastman, started the school in 1921. It was the very first professional school to open at the University of Rochester.
Eastman offers many different music degrees. These include Bachelor of Music (BM), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Music (MM), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). Students can also get a special dual degree if they have other interests besides music. In 2024, over 950 students were studying at Eastman. About 500 were undergraduate students, and 450 were graduate students.
Contents
History of Eastman School
The Eastman School of Music has a rich history with many important leaders.
Early Directors
The school's first director was Alfred Klingenberg, a talented pianist from Norway. He led the school from 1921 to 1923. After him, the famous composer Howard Hanson took over in 1924. Hanson had a huge impact on the school. He even helped create the first Doctor of Musical Arts degree in the United States. He was director for 40 years, retiring in 1964.
After Hanson, conductor Walter Hendl became director. He served from 1964 to 1972. Then, pianist and music expert Robert Freeman led the school from 1973 to 1996. Daniel Patrylak was the acting director for a short time between Hendl and Freeman.
Recent Leadership
In 1996, James Undercofler became the Director and Dean. He stayed until 2006. After him, Jamal Rossi, who had studied at Eastman, became the Interim Dean. In 2007, composer and conductor Douglas Lowry was appointed Dean. After Lowry passed away in 2013, Jamal Rossi was again appointed Dean. Kate Sheeran became the Dean in 2024.
Campus and Buildings
The Eastman School is located in downtown Rochester, New York. It uses parts of five different buildings. The main building has the large Eastman Theatre, Kilbourn Hall, Hatch Recital Hall, and faculty offices.
Eastman Theatre
The Eastman Theatre opened in 1922. It was a place for music, dance, and silent movies with live music. Today, this huge theatre has 3,094 seats. It's the main concert hall for Eastman's biggest groups. This includes their orchestras, wind ensembles, jazz groups, and choirs. The Eastman Opera Theatre also puts on full opera shows here each spring. The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra also performs in this theatre. The theatre was updated in 2004. In 2010, it was renamed "Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre" after a big donation.
Sibley Music Library
The Sibley Music Library is the largest music library at any school in North America. It's across the street from the main hall. Hiram Watson Sibley started the library in 1904. He used money he earned from being the first president of Western Union. The library moved to its current spot in 1989. It has almost 750,000 items! These range from very old books from the 11th century to the newest music and recordings. It even has original drafts of famous music, like "La Mer" by Debussy.
Student Living Center
The Student Living Center is the dormitory for Eastman students. It opened in 1991. This building has four stories and a tall 14-story tower. It surrounds a pretty inner courtyard and has its own dining hall. Most undergraduate students live here on campus.
What Students Study
The Eastman School offers many types of music degrees. These include Bachelor of Music (BM), Master of Arts (MA), Master of Music (MM), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA). Students can study many different areas of music.
The school also gives special awards called "Performer's Certificate" or "Artist's Diploma." These are for students who are incredibly good at performing music. The Institute for Music Leadership helps students learn skills for careers in music. In 2018, they even started a Master of Arts degree in Music Leadership. This degree helps musicians learn how to lead music organizations.
School's Reputation
The Eastman School of Music is very well-known. In 2024, Billboard magazine named it the Top Music Business School.
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Famous People from Eastman
Many talented people have studied or taught at the Eastman School.
Notable Alumni and Faculty
Some famous alumni include jazz bassist Ron Carter and singer Renée Fleming. Other notable people are cellist Robert deMaine, drummer Steve Gadd, and trumpeter Chuck Mangione. Composers like Maria Schneider also studied here.
Current teachers include amazing musicians and educators like the Ying Quartet, Anthony Dean Griffey, and Paul O'Dette.
Directors and Deans
- Alfred Klingenberg (Director, 1921–1923)
- Raymond Wilson (Acting Director, 1923–1924)
- Howard Hanson (Director, 1924–1964)
- Walter Hendl (Director, 1964–1972)
- Daniel Patrylak (Acting Director, 1972–1973)
- Robert Freeman (Director, 1973–1996)
- James Undercofler (Acting Director, 1996–1997; Director, 1997–2006)
- Jamal Rossi (Acting Director, 2006–2007; Acting Dean, 2013)
- Douglas Lowry (Dean, 2007–2013)
- Jamal Rossi (Dean, 2014–2024)
- Kate Sheeran (Dean, 2024–present)
See also
In Spanish: Escuela de Música Eastman para niños
- List of concert halls
