Welcome from the President
A Message from the President
Karen Zorn, President, Longy School of Music
Dear Parents and Prospective Students,
Welcome to Longy School of Music! Whether you are an advanced student preparing to embark on a career in music, an amateur enthusiast looking to collaborate on a chamber piece with like-minded individuals or a parent seeking to expose your child to music for the first time, Longy has something to offer you. Deciding to join our unique community may be one of the most important decisions you ever make!
I was drawn to the role of President at Longy three years ago because I was struck by the passion and dedication of the faculty to teaching students to make a difference in the world through focused individual musical attention. True to its founding by Georges Longy in 1915, Longy, now in its 95th year, continues to emphasize a personalized musical education by a world-class faculty and a comprehensive education including training in solfège, theory and Dalcroze Eurhythmics.
Today Longy teaches music in three distinct programs: our Conservatory, which offers intense and competitive degree and diploma programs for undergraduate and graduate students; Continuing Studies, offering lessons, classes and participation in ensembles for avocational and non-degree adult students; and Preparatory Studies, offering lessons, classes, and participation in ensembles for young people from 12 months to 18 years of age. The Conservatory serves 223 undergraduate and graduate students from 37 states and 21 countries. The average class size is seven, and the student-faculty ratio is 5:1. Over 700 young people participate in our Preparatory program, and nearly 250 adults from the community are enrolled in Continuing Studies.
I invite you to visit us. On any given day in our two historic mansions, you will hear the beautiful sounds of our dedicated and enthusiastic Conservatory students rehearsing for an opera, composing a new piece, joining a visiting professional artist in an impromptu duet during a master class, learning a Baroque dance, or taking a course in Dalcroze Eurhythmics or Mind/Body studies.
You’ll likely find students performing on stage in Longy’s Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall, home to about 400 concerts and recitals each year. Other performances take place off campus in places where you least expect it — like jazz clubs in Harvard Square or fine museums in Boston.
Students from each division can be found studying and doing research in the Bakalar Music Library. The library, opened with generous financial support of David and Sandra Bakalar, occupies a three-level wing at the rear of school’s Zabriskie House, named in honor of long-time Longy supporters Drs. John and Adelaide Zabriskie. The library collection includes 4,300 books, some 11,000 scores, about 9,000 audio and visual recordings, and scholarly and general interest music journals.
Students attending Longy have the best of both worlds – the benefits of personal attention from world-class faculty at a small music school and the advantage of being located in the flourishing academic, arts and entertainment environment of Cambridge. Longy is located in Harvard Square, home to major universities, excellent restaurants and unique shops, just across the Charles River from the bustling city of Boston. Home to some of the world’s finest orchestras, academic and cultural organizations, you don’t even need a car to get around. Just hop on the MBTA (Boston’s public transportation system) at Harvard Square to take in a concert at Symphony Hall in Boston, visit renowned museums and tour the distinctive and diverse neighborhoods of Boston.
I invite you to explore the many opportunities an education at Longy will provide, and wish you success in your musical studies.
Sincerely,
Karen L. Zorn
President
