Longy School of Music of Bard College

The Longy School of Music of Bard College is a prestigious institution located at 27 Garden Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1915 by Georges Longy, the principal oboist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the school was established with the intention of providing comprehensive training in musicianship and performance, following the Paris Conservatoire model. The curriculum from its inception emphasized individual attention to each student and a strong foundation in solfège and theory, which remain central to the school's programs today. In 1925-1926, Georges Longy's daughter, Renée Longy-Miquelle, took over as Director, shaping the school's future as a small, intimate institution with high performance standards and rigorous musicianship training. She was instrumental in incorporating Dalcroze Eurhythmics into the curriculum and ensuring the faculty included her father's colleagues from the Boston Symphony. The 1930s saw the school move to Cambridge, where it acquired the stone house built by Edwin Abbot in 1889. This period marked the beginning of Longy's close relationship with Harvard and Radcliffe Colleges. The faculty during this time included notable figures such as Walter Piston, E. Power Biggs, Sarah Caldwell, and Olga Averino. One of the school's most significant faculty members was Nadia Boulanger, who taught from 1938 to 1945. She provided advanced courses in harmony, composition, and counterpoint and gave popular lectures on Beethoven's string quartets and the cantatas of J.S. Bach. Under the directorship of Melville Smith in 1941, the school entered a golden age, fostering a collaborative environment where conservatory students worked closely with their faculty mentors. The Stradivarius Quartet's extended residency at Longy during the 1940s further enhanced the school's reputation. The 1960s and subsequent decades saw further development under the leadership of directors such as Nicholas Van Slyck and Roman Totenberg, who expanded the faculty and founded the Young Performers Program. The opening of the Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall in 1970 established the school as a prime venue for chamber music in New England. In the 1990s, Longy celebrated its 75th anniversary with significant renovations and expansions, including the construction of the Bakalar Music Library. The turn of the millennium brought a capital campaign to support scholarships, facility renovations, and faculty compensation, along with the appointment of Kwang-Wu Kim as president. Further developments included the 2004 rededication of the Abbot House as the Zabriskie House and the 2005 renovation of the Rey-Waldstein Building. In 2007, Karen Zorn became the 10th head of the school, emphasizing Longy's philosophy of preparing musicians to make a difference in the world. A significant milestone in Longy's history was its merger with Bard College on April 1, 2012, which opened doors to a wider community of musicians, scholars, and world leaders, fostering an environment for intellectual and musical exchange. Today, Longy School of Music continues to offer elite and rigorous training, preparing students to meet the challenges of a changing global landscape in music and music education. With a faculty that includes GRAMMY award winners, Steinway Artists, a MacArthur Fellow, and musicians from renowned orchestras, Longy is dedicated to inspiring students and supporting them in launching successful careers in music. The school's alumni have become world-renowned performers, educators, and innovators, contributing significantly to the musical world.