Manhattan School of Music Alumni

On This Date in 1995: MSM students perform with saxophonist David Sanborn at the invitation of the Clinton White House.

On This Date in 2007 and 2013: MSM’s Distance Learning program connects the School with musicians at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China through our ground-breaking videoconferencing technology (2007); MSM staff, faculty, and guests gather for a year-end BBQ (2013), hosted by newly-appointed President James Gandre.

1970, 1983, 1988, 1996, and 2005: Examples of program covers in past decades for the School’s main concert hall, formerly known as John C. Borden Auditorium (now Neidorff-Karpati Hall).

On This Date in 1912: William Vacchiano is born in Portland, Maine. He joins the New York Philharmonic trumpet section in 1935 (becoming principal in 1942 and retiring in 1973) and is appointed to the Manhattan School of Music faculty in 1937 (teaching for over 60 years). Even with both those positions, he enters the undergraduate program at MSM, earning his degree in 1952, followed by a master’s degree in 1953.

On This Date in 1973 and 1994:

A concert by MSM’s Contemporary Jazz Ensemble honors Dizzy Gillespie, who is presented a plaque by President George Schick which reads "to Dizzy Gillespie… an expression of appreciation to a great artist for his contribution to jazz an important art form in which he pioneered, and his continuing participation in new musical concepts" (1974);

A Gala Benefit Concert (1994), celebrating the School’s 75th Anniversary, features the MSM Symphony conducted by Kurt Masur, with the World Premiere of “Manhattan Concerto” by Siegfried Matthus (shown taking bows are current student soloists Kelly Hall, Joseph Tompkins, Stefon Harris, and David Cossin, with the composer behind them).

Today! Watch our Livestream of the MSM Commencement 2024 starting at 1 PM!

LINK: https://rb.gy/rvofi7

Our 2024 Honorary Doctorate Recipients are:

Ted Chapin, Former CEO, Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
Anne-Marie McDermott (PC '82, '82), classical pianist
Brian Stokes Mitchell, two-time Tony Award-winning actor
Linda Oh (MM ’08), jazz bassist
Ann Ziff, Chairman, Metropolitan Opera
This year's President’s Medal for Distinguished Service Recipients:

Rebecca Charnow, Dean for Youth Education and Community-Career Connections
Kim Laskowski, MSM Faculty (Orchestral Performance Program, Woodwinds)
George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ‘76), MSM Faculty (Director of Orchestral Activities; Chair, Conducting Department)
Chris Shade (MM ’07), Assistant Dean for The Orto Center for Distance Learning and Recording Arts
This year's Student Commencement Speaker:
Kellin Hanas (BM ’24, jazz trumpet)

On Thursday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m, Alumni Council Chair Dr. Justin Bischof (BM ’90, MM ’92, DMA ’98) will lead his Modus Operandi Orchestra (MOO) at Saint Thomas Fifth Avenue as a part of this historic New York church’s Bicentennial Celebration. MOO will perform in collaboration with the renowned Saint Thomas Choir of Men and Boys, led by Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church Jeremy Filsell. The evening will feature Vaughan Williams’s The Lark Ascending with MOO concertmaster Eiko Kano (BM '05, MM '07) as soloist and Strauss’ epic Metamorphosen for 23 Solo Strings. The program will also include works by Vaughn Williams, Hallock, and Thompson. A limited number of tickets are still available at this link: https://ci.ovationtix.com/35174/production/1159536?performanceId=11280856?

On This Date in 1972 and 2011:

Composer Hans Werner Henze (shown in first photo with President George Schick, left, and composition department chair Ludmila Ulehla*) gives a master class at MSM in 1972;

MSM’s 2011 Gala honors Mary Sharp Cronson, Claude Mann, and Barbara Cook (top right photo) with performances by jazz pianist Christian Sands**, vocalist Judy Blazer*, bassist-vocalist Kate Davis**, pianist Simone Dinnerstein*, and violinist Sarah Chang.

*alumni / **current students

On Sunday, May 19th at 7:30 p.m, piano alumna Gila Goldstein (MM ’90) will perform a solo recital presented by the New York Piano Academy. The performance will be held at West End Presbyterian Church in Manhattan (165 West 105th Street, New York, NY 10025). The program contains works by Cesar Franck, J.S.Bach, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Franz Schubert, Ronn Yedidia (World Premiere) and Franz Liszt. While admission is free, suggested donations are $20.

Today, Ms. Goldstein released her new album, "Latin American Piano Gems" (Centaur Records), a beautiful collection of classical piano works by prominent Argentinian, Brazilian, Cuban, and Mexican composers. The album includes the premiere recording of Gila’s own arrangement of Piazzolla’s Oblivion. Latin American Piano Gems is available on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and more. https://www.gilagoldstein.com

MSM Opera Theatre Opening Nights On This Date in 2007, 2012, and 2019:

“L'Italiana in Londra” by Domenico Cimarosa is presented in its American Premiere, directed by Albert Sherman, with Steven Mosteller conducting (2007);

“The Ghosts of Versailles” by John Corigliano (’63, HonDMA ’92), directed by Jay Lesinger, with Steven Osgood conducting (2012);

“Emmeline” by Tobias Picker (BM ’76), directed by Thaddeus Strassberger, with George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76) conducting (2019).

On This Date in 2005: Composer, conductor, and founding director of IRCAM, Pierre Boulez, begins his MSM residence for a week of lectures, rehearsals, and performances of his music, as well as advising MSM composition students on their own works.

On This Date in 2002: Cellist/Conductor Mstislav Rostropovich gives a master class at MSM.

: On This Date in 1973 and 1995: A performance of the musical “Irene” on Broadway — starring Debbie Reynolds, directed by Sir John Gielgud, and choreographed by Peter Gennaro* — benefits the School’s scholarship fund (1973); and German baritone Hermann Prey gives a voice master class (1995).

*father of Liza Gennaro, current head of MSM’s Musical Theatre Program.

On This Date in 2018: The MSM Percussion Ensemble — founded by Paul Price in 1957 — celebrates its 60th Anniversary at MSM; the event begins with (first photo, left to right) Percussion Department Chair, Christopher Lamb, leading a discussion with former ensemble members Ray DesRoches (BM ’61, MM ’62) and Jan Williams (BM ’63, MM ’64). Read about this historic ensemble: https://issuu.com/msmnyc/docs/percussion_ensemble_a_60_year_retro

Congratulations to MSM Alumni Council Chair Dr. Justin Bischof (BM ’90, MM ’92, DMA ’98) on his Modus Operandi Orchestra’s recent performance at Saint Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, on March 21st as a part of the historic church’s Bicentennial Gala Concert celebration. The first part of the program featured an exciting rendition of Rorem’s O God, my heart is ready, followed by Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, both conducted masterfully by Maestro Bischof. Renowned pianist and Organist and Director of Music at Saint Thomas Church, Jeremy Filsell, joined for the concerto with stunning affect. Concertmaster Eiko Kano's (BM '05, MM '07) exemplary phrasing facilitated the sublime relationship between orchestra and soloist. In the second half, MSM alumna Laquita Mitchell (MM '01, PS '02) lent her incredible talent, as the soprano soloist, to Poulenc’s Stabat Mater, performing alongside the Men and Boys choir.

On This Date in 1977, 1983, and 1999:

A tribute to Brazilian soprano Bidu Sayão is given at MSM (1977) on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of her debut at the Metropolitan Opera;

"A Bach Symposium in All Media" begins (thru March 25), directed by Rosalyn Tureck (pictured), that includes Christoph Wolff, Roger Guillemin, Sharon Isbin, Kurt Safir, Gerald Tarack, and Bradford Gowen (1983);

New one-act operas by two current composition students are given their first performances (1999), Christian McLeer’s "House of Comedy" and Patrick Soluri’s "Inferno" (pictured).

In Memoriam: Faculty member Solomon Mikowsky (1936–2024) - Manhattan School of Music To the MSM Community: We write today to share the profoundly sad news that beloved piano faculty member Solomon Mikowsky – who possessed a singular pedagogical genius which he brought to his work at Manhattan School of Music for more than half a century – passed away on Friday, March 15.

On This Date in 1999: An event celebrates the legacy of retiring Director of the MSM Preparatory Division* Dianne Danese Flagello (BM/MM ’52) with a performance of the opera “The Piper of Hamelin” by former faculty member Nicolas Flagello (BM ’49, MM ’50). Having received its World Premiere at MSM in 1970, the opera’s 1999 performances feature Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath (MM ’59) as narrator, College Division student Brace Negron as the Piper, and the MSM Preparatory Division* orchestra and chorus conducted by Jonathan Strasser (BM ’67, MM ’70). The Newport Classic label later releases the live premiere recording. (Flagello is shown in the first photo at her MSM graduation, followed by her receiving an honorary doctorate in May 1999.)

*now known as MSM Precollege

On This Date in 1966 and 1988:

A collection of scores and recordings by MSM faculty and alumni is on exhibit at the School (1966), including those by John Motley, Artur Balsam, Vera Franceschi, Robert Goldsand, Rachmael Weinstock, Frances Hall, Mary Weaver, Ezio Flagello, Nicolas Flagello, Ludmila Ulehla, Frances Blaisdell, Anton Coppola, Marcel Grandjany, Jonel Perlea, William Vacchiano, and the Paul Price Percussion Ensemble;

Yehudi Menuhin gives a violin master class, shown here with current student Aaron Berofsky (1988).

On This Date in 1976: The MSM Opera Theatre presents its closing night performance of "Street Scene” by Kurt Weill/Langston Hughes, directed by James Lucas and conducted by faculty member and alumnus Anton Coppola (shown here in rehearsal).

On This Date in 1993 and 2019:

The MSM Jazz Orchestra presents a concert in 1993 that features pianist Barry Harris;

George Manahan (BM ’73, MM ’76) conducts the MSM Philharmonia in a 2019 program that includes “A Goldoni Overture” by Nicolas Flagello (BM ’49, MM ’50), written in 1967 in honor of Flagello’s teacher at MSM, Vittorio Giannini.

On This Date in 1956 and 2019:

Jerome Ashby is born in Charleston, South Carolina (1956), and will become French Hornist of the New York Philharmonic and a faculty member at MSM (until his death in 2007);

Jane Glover conducts a 2019 program with the MSM Chamber Sinfonia, as part of the School’s Centennial Celebration Season, that included “Epitaph for a Man Who Dreamed” by Adolphus Hailstork (BM ’63, MM ’65), who is pictured (last photo) receiving an honorary doctorate from MSM that May.

On This Date in 2005: MSM presents an opera outreach program at the Children’s Storefront in Harlem; a concert of music by Alban Berg is preceded by a discussion between composer Richard Danielpour and conductor Samuel Wong.

On This Date in 1960: A concert at Carnegie Hall is used to benefit Manhattan School of Music’s scholarship fund, with Emil Gilels as soloist in Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and Constantin Ivanov conducting the Moscow State Symphony, appearing for the first time in the U.S.

Congratulations to pianist Christian Sands (BM '11, MM '14), who was recently featured on NPR’s weekly Jazz Night in America series hosted by Christian McBride. The episode was aired on December 14, 2023. Mr. Sands released his fourth album in October, "Christmas Stories," which was played throughout the program. He also performed album selections with his Quartet at Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Jazz Club on December 23rd. Click the following link to listen to the NPR segment: https://www.npr.org/2023/12/14/1218931182/pianist-christian-sands-shares-his-christmas-stories-for-the-holidays

The album includes MSM alumni Jimmy Greene (DMA ’18), tenor saxophone; Stefon Harris (BM '95, MM '97), vibraphone; and Ryan Sands (MM ’18), drum set. To view the album, click this link: https://christiansands.bandcamp.com/album/christmas-stories

Pianist Christian Sands shares his 'Christmas Stories' for the holidays Pianist Christian Sands shares music from his new record, Christmas Stories. We'll hear tales of his childhood in snowy Connecticut, the ultimate Christmas party music and an exclusive song.

Acclaimed violin alumna Kelly Hall-Tompkins (MM ’95, HonDMA ‘16) will perform the world premiere of composer Jeff Beal’s violin concerto, "Body in Motion" with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra on January 12, 2024 under conductor Leonard Slatkin (HonDMA ’13). The video below is a sneak peak at this new piece written for Ms. Hall-Tompkins.

Violin Concerto by Composer Jeff Beal, Body in Motion, for Violin Soloist Kelly Hall-Tompkins World Premiere with Leonard Slatkin and the Saint Louis Symphony, January 12, 2024European Premiere with Leonard Slatkin and the Orquesta de Gran Canaria Apr...

On This Date in 1974: The MSM Opera Theatre presents its production of Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” conducted by George Schick. A later review by Peter G. Davis of the New York Times complimented the young singers, “considering the severe vocal demands,” who “displayed fresh, secure young voices” and “handled their assignments with bright competency” and “crisp musical efficiency.” Lloyd Burlingame provided “enchanting sets: airy lattice structures and colorful drops.”

MSM Opera Theatre double bill opening nights on this date in 1988, 1994, and 2005: 1988 double bill of “Le Rossignol” by Igor Stravinsky and “Arlecchino” by Ferruccio Busoni; 1994 double bill of “Une Éducation Marquee” by Emmanuel Chabrier and “Miss Julie” by Ned Rorem; and 2005 double bill of “Riders to the Sea” by Ralph Vaughan Williams and “A Dinner Engagement” by Lennox Berkeley.