Curtis Institute of Music
| Type | Conservatory |
|---|---|
| Address | 1726 Locust Street |
| Map | View on Google Maps |
| Neighborhood | Rittenhouse Square |
| Phone | (215) 893-5252 |
| Website | Official site |
| Established | 1924 |
| Founder | Mary Louise Curtis Bok |
Curtis Institute of Music is a private music conservatory at 1726 Locust Street near Rittenhouse Square, widely regarded as one of the most elite and selective music schools in the world. Founded in 1924 by philanthropist Mary Louise Curtis Bok, Curtis has a 4% acceptance rate—the lowest of any college or university in the United States—and provides full-tuition scholarships to all students. Its alumni include Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Lang Lang, and Hilary Hahn.
History
Founding
The Curtis Institute was founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok (1876-1970), daughter of publishing magnate Cyrus Curtis, who built the Curtis Publishing Company (The Saturday Evening Post, Ladies' Home Journal). Bok named the school after her father.
Bok's interest in music education grew from her work with underprivileged children at the Settlement Music School in South Philadelphia, where she encountered students talented enough for professional careers but lacking resources for advanced training. She envisioned a conservatory that would accept students solely on merit and provide free tuition.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania chartered Curtis on April 18, 1924, and the school opened in October 1925 in three mansions at 1726-1720 Locust Street and 235 South 18th Street.
Early Faculty
Curtis attracted the greatest musicians of the era to its faculty:
- Leopold Stokowski — Legendary conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra
- Carl Flesch — Renowned violinist and pedagogue
- Isabelle Vengerova — Pianist whose students included Leonard Bernstein and Samuel Barber
- Marcella Sembrich — Operatic soprano
- William Kincaid — Principal flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra
By the 1940s, the majority of American orchestras employed Curtis graduates.
Notable Alumni
Curtis has produced an extraordinary number of the world's leading musicians:
Conductors & Composers
- Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) — Conductor, composer of West Side Story, first American-born conductor to receive international acclaim
- Samuel Barber (1910-1981) — Composer of Adagio for Strings, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
- Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007) — Opera composer, founder of Spoleto Festival
- Nino Rota (1911-1979) — Film composer, Academy Award for The Godfather Part II
- George Walker (1922-2018) — First African American to win Pulitzer Prize for Music
Instrumentalists
- Lang Lang — Chinese pianist, international superstar
- Yuja Wang — Chinese pianist
- Hilary Hahn — Three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist
- Ray Chen — Taiwanese-Australian violinist
- Richard Goode — Pianist
- Lynn Harrell (1944-2020) — Cellist
Singers
- Anna Moffo (1932-2006) — Operatic soprano
- Benita Valente — Soprano
Social Impact
- Anthony McGill — First Black principal of the New York Philharmonic, advocate for social justice and music education
Academics
Curtis maintains its founding principle of admitting students solely on merit:
- Full scholarships for all students
- 4% acceptance rate — lowest of any U.S. college or university
- Enrollment — Approximately 175 students
- Faculty-to-student ratio — Nearly 1:1 for applied lessons
- "Learn by doing" — Students perform regularly in public concerts
The curriculum emphasizes performance over academic study, with students appearing in hundreds of concerts annually.
Campus
Curtis occupies several connected townhouses on Locust Street near Rittenhouse Square, including the original 1857 mansion. The intimate campus reflects the school's small size and intensive focus on individual instruction.
Visiting
Curtis hosts public concerts, recitals, and opera productions throughout the academic year. Many are free or low-cost.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 1726 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
| Concerts | Check curtis.edu for performance schedule |
| Tours | Limited; contact admissions |
Getting There
- Walking — One block south of Rittenhouse Square on Locust Street
- SEPTA Subway — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line)
- SEPTA Bus — Routes 9, 12, 21
See Also
References