The New York College of Music was an American conservatory of music located in Manhattan that flourished from 1878 to 1968. The college was incorporated under the laws of New York and was empowered to confer diplomas and degrees ranging from a Bachelor of Music to a Doctor of Music.[1] The conservatory was later repurposed after a merger with New York University and developed into the Music and Performing Arts Professions department of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.[2][3]
The New York College of Music was established in 1878 by Louis Alexander (1839–1903)[4] and flourished for the next 90 years. Its first location was 163 East 70th Street.[5] The faculty, around the time of its founding, included conductor Theodore Thomas and pianist Rafael Joseffy.[1] Alexander Lambert (1862–1929), a pianist, served as the second director from 1887 to 1905.[6] On September 1, 1891, he moved the college to a "handsome new building" at 128-130 East 58th Street. Faculty under Lambert included pianist Leopold Godowsky.
Later directors included Carl Hein (1864–1945)[clarification needed] and August Fraemcke (1870–1933), who served as co-directors. In 1920, Hein and Fraemcke moved the college to its third and final home at 114–116 East 85th Street.[7] At the death of Fraemcke in 1933, Hein carried on as director until his own death in 1945. Arved Kurtz (1899–1995) succeeded Hein[8] and remained director until 1965. In 1965, Jerrold Ross (born 1935), became President of the College, the youngest in its history, and remained in the position until 1967.
Under Hein and Fraemcke, faculty included Hans Letz, who headed the violin department. He was one of the foremost musicians in the country. From 1912 to 1917 he was member of the Kneisel Quartet and later first violinist with the Letz Quartet. The piano department was under the direction of Fraemcke. Cornelius Rybner (de) in the mid 1920s, took the place of Rubin Goldmark as the head of the theory and composition department. The vocal department was under the direction of Carl Hein. William Ebann (1873–1945), principal cellist with the Philadelphia Orchestra from 1901 to 1902 and also cellist with the New York Philharmonic, headed the cello department for 45 years, until his death. Wilbur Luyster (1871–1949) was the director of the sight-singing department.
In 1920 the conservatory absorbed the German Conservatory and in 1923 it took over the American Conservatory.[9] In 1958 the school presented the United States premiere of Benjamin Britten's The Turn of the Screw.[10]
After nine decades of operation, the conservatory closed in June 1968[11] after a merger with New York University and be reinvented as the Steinhardt School.[2] At the time of its closing, the New York College of Music was the oldest music conservatory in New York.[4]