“Curtis takes great pride in the large number of its students who have achieved world renown. Equally, Curtis is proud of its many students who may not have achieved a similar degree of fame but who, in various roles, have brought music, intelligently understood and discriminatingly presented, to innumerable communities and thereby have helped cheer the heart and raise the spirits of countless people.”
This introduction to Curtis's 50th-anniversary book, Overtones—written in 1974 by M. Todd Cooke, Curtis’s board president at the time—is as true now as it was then.
Curtis alumni, having experienced extraordinary one-on-one training and valuable performance opportunities as students, go on to invent careers with impact around the world and in their communities.
Violinist Jennifer Koh explores a broad and eclectic repertoire while promoting diversity and inclusivity in classical music.
Double bassist Paul Kowert has blazed a unique career path through classical, jazz, bluegrass, and folk forms.
Soprano Amanda Majeski makes every experience count.
Pianist Lambert Orkis strives to transport listeners each time he plays.
Violin alumna Karina Canellakis has become a compelling, and award-winning, presence on the podium.
For organ virtuoso Paul Jacobs, advocacy and artistry go hand in hand.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra | 7% Curtis alumni, 4 principal chairs held by alumni |
Houston Symphony | 8%, 4 principals |
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra | 10%, 5 principals, music director Robert Spano |
Dallas Symphony Orchestra | 11%, 5 principals |
Seattle Symphony | 13%, 4 principals |
National Symphony Orchestra | 14%, 3 principals |
Boston Symphony Orchestra | 17%, 4 principals |
New York Philharmonic | 18%, 4 principals, music director Alan Gilbert |
Minnesota Orchestra | 19%, 5 principals |
Pittsburgh Symphony | 19%, 5 principals |
Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra | 30%, 3 principals |
Philadelphia Orchestra |
45%, 4 principals |
Bavarian State Opera
Canadian Opera Company
English National Opera
Glimmerglass Opera
Glydenbourne Festival Opera
Houston Grand Opera
Teatro alla Scala
Los Angeles Opera
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Metropolitan Opera
Minnesota Opera
Opera Philadelphia
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Opera National de Paris
Royal Opera London
Salzburg Opera
San Francisco Opera
Santa Fe Opera
Semperoper Dresden
Vienna State Opera
Washington National Opera
Berklee College of Music
Colburn School
Curtis Institute of Music
Eastman School of Music
Ensemble Connect
The Harmony Effect
Juilliard School
New England Conservatory
Manhattan School of Music
Mannes School of Music
Peabody Conservatory
Philadelphia Orchestra Teaching Artists
Play on, Philly!
Project 440
Stanford University
Seoul National University
USC Thornton School of Music