About Us

Press Coverage

The visibility of Manhattan School of Music’s Distance Learning Program has been continually raised through the combination of past and present national and international partnerships and the media coverage that has ensued. Since the inception of the distance learning program, the School has received widespread recognition for the key role it has played throughout the progression of distance learning technology applications for music performance and education.

Recent stories have been featured on BBC Worldwide, Fox National News, CBC Radio, and WCBS New York. See a list of media coverage for the Distance Learning Program here.

[This] was an outstanding way to extend what students are learning in the classroom to a more real-world setting. In particular, the interactive aspect and live jazz trio performance were engaging and educational…[this] provided students a chance to experience a live jazz setting of a professional caliber that they would not be otherwise able to…also to interact with professional performers in a manner not always possible.

Bonnie Jacobi and Gretchen Fasulo
Pine Crest School
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Noteworthy Educational Partners & Collaborations

Manhattan School of Music recognizes the following educational, government, corporate, and foundation partners for their ongoing collaboration and support of the conservatory’s distance learning program:

Distance Learning Program Historical Highlights

  • 1996

    Manhattan School of Music inaugurates the first-ever music videoconference program at a major United States conservatory.

    First International Videoconference to Paris — Composer Henri Dutilleux appears live from Paris in Borden Auditorium during the New York premiere of his work Timbres, espaces, movement as performed by the Manhattan School of Music Philharmonia

  • 1997

    Honorary Doctorate Conferred upon Mstislav Rostropovich and Clark Terry via International Videoconference —President Marta Istomin confers honorary doctorates upon Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich and jazz trumpeter Clark Terry live from Evian, France via videoconference during the 71st commencement exercises.

    Pinchas Zukerman offers master class to Hong Kong for students at the Academy of Performing Arts. Isaac Stern is in attendance

  • 1998

    Creation of Mischa Elman Distance Learning Center — To support the growth and development of videoconference music programs and applications, the Elman Distance Learning Center is established. The Center joins the aesthetic tradition of a conservatory music studio with 21st-century technological capabilities in a one-of-a-kind virtual music studio

  • 1999

    Manhattan School of Music establishes a Distance Learning Partnership with New York City School system, to expand its Arts-in-Education program, Music Teaches, to underserved students in the five boroughs

  • 2002

    Manhattan School of Music becomes affiliate member of Internet2, the national research and education consortium dedicated to creating next generation Internet applications

     “Arts in Education and the Virtual Classroom” becomes the first elective course to offer students comprehensive training in how to design, create, and present interactive educational outreach programs via videoconference to classrooms throughout the United States

  • 2003

    Manhattan School of Music presents first Webcast, Zukerman Interactive, featuring Maestro Zukerman conducting an orchestral reading of the Elgar String Serenade, Op. 20, with student string chamber orchestra

  • 2005

    Manhattan School of Music collaborates with Polycom to create “Music Mode” videoconferencing technology specifically designed for live, music education, and interaction

  • 2006

    Manhattan School of Music establishes first-ever US-Chinese music distance learning program with Shanghai Conservatory of Music

    Manhattan School of Music constructs fiber optic network connected to Internet2 via Columbia University

    Manhattan School of Music Distance Learning Director receives IDEA Award, Internet2 Driving Exemplary Applications, Interactive Music Education

    Manhattan School of Music Distance Learning Program connects to Seoul, South Korea for first ever International Student Showcase with MSM students performing live for their friends and families in Seoul

  • 2007

    Manhattan Connects: An Internet2 Conference for New York’s Cultural Institutions. In collaboration with Internet2, Columbia University, and Nysernet, MSM presents a conference for New York’s cultural institutions on the power and potential of advanced networking for the arts from The William R. and Irene D. Miller Recital Hall

  • 2008

    Manhattan School of Music Distance Learning inaugurates live web streaming of student concerts from The William R. and Irene D. Miller Recital Hall