Founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, the Curtis Institute of Music is one of the world's most selective and prestigious conservatories. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Curtis provides full-tuition scholarships to all students, focusing exclusively on training exceptionally gifted young musicians for professional careers in music performance at the highest level.
165
Total enrollment
3.2%
Acceptance rate
4:3
Student-faculty ratio
Middle States Commission on Higher Education
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National Association of Schools of Music
Department of Education Recognition
Curtis provides comprehensive career development support through multiple channels. The Career Studies department offers courses in entrepreneurship, pedagogy, and professional skills development. Students receive practical experience through more than 150 annual performances, including orchestral concerts, opera productions, and recitals. The Community Artist Program and Fellowship provide opportunities to develop social impact projects and serve underserved communities. Additional support includes resume writing, grant-writing, artistic planning, and networking through the Careers in Music Speaker Series
150+
Annual performances
These are the expert instructors who will be teaching you throughout the course. With a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience, they’re here to guide, inspire, and support you every step of the way. Get to know the people who will help you reach your learning goals and make the most of your journey.
Renowned Pianist Combines Performance Excellence with Educational Innovation and Beethoven Scholarship
Jonathan Biss stands as one of today's most distinguished pianists, combining artistic excellence with scholarly depth and educational innovation. As Co-Artistic Director of the Marlboro Music Festival alongside Mitsuko Uchida, he has established himself as a leading interpreter of Beethoven's works, completing a comprehensive nine-disc recording of all Beethoven piano sonatas. His innovative "Beethoven/5" commissioning project has paired each Beethoven piano concerto with new works by contemporary composers. Through his Coursera online course "Exploring Beethoven's Piano Sonatas," he has reached over 150,000 students worldwide. A faculty member at the Curtis Institute of Music, Biss maintains an active international performance schedule with leading orchestras while authoring influential works including "UNQUIET: My Life with Beethoven," which became one of Audible's top audiobooks of 2020. His thoughtful programming and deep musical curiosity have earned him recognition as "one of his generation's most serious musical thinkers"