Curtis Institute of Music Celebrates its Centennial

On Sunday, the famed Curtis Institute of Music celebrated its centennial. Founded by Mary Louise Curtis Bok, who believed in the transformative potential of individuals to positively impact their communities and beyond, Curtis first opened its doors in 1924. We have lots of connections to Curtis, with several alumni on our roster. 

Curtis is a tuition-free institution that operates on a merit-based admission process. Every student who attends is an exceptional musician, with many achieving remarkable accomplishments even before their time at Curtis. With a student body of just 160, Curtis is excited to welcome its students for the 2024.25 school year. The institute’s distinctive learn-by-doing approach has helped countless dedicated musicians hone their craft. 

Our violinist Eunice Kim, a San Francisco Bay Area native and Curtis graduate, reflects fondly on her time at the school: “When I think about my time at Curtis, I feel like the mentors I worked with and the friends I made were always meant to be in my life. A few weeks ago, I walked through the entire school, and every step filled me with so much emotion… I even felt just as nervous stepping onto the stage at Field Concert Hall as I did during my first audition there.” 

“The Curtis Institute in 1989 was a place I had dreamed of going to since I was a young teenager,” Concertmaster Steven Copes recalls. “Mostly because of friends I met and heard perform at the ENCORE string camp in the summers, but also because of my big fan crush (still a fan!) of the amazing Guarneri Quartet, three members of which attended Curtis long before I did. The beautiful old mansion on Rittenhouse Square in Philly still holds so many special musical and other memories for me, especially the intense lessons with my devoted teacher, Aaron Rosand, and chamber music coachings with Felix Galimir.” 

Curtis Institute of Music’s 100th season begins this month with bold and innovative programming that spans across orchestra, opera, and chamber music. More than 150 performances are scheduled in Philadelphia through May 2025, featuring guest musicians and composers such as Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä and violinist Ray Chen. The season will culminate in April with the Curtis Opera Theatre’s performance of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide.