Boston Conservatory - History

History

The Boston Conservatory was founded on February 11, 1867 by Julius Eichberg, a violinist and composer. Eichberg founded the Conservatory as a professional training academy and a community music school. It was one of the first conservatories to grant admission to African Americans and women. In 1873, Eichberg’s operetta, “The Doctor of Alcontara” was performed at the Conservatory by the first African-American opera company in the U.S. In 1878, Eichberg established the Eichberg String Quartet, the first professional female quartet.

Mr. Eichberg's death in 1893 lead to the direction of R. Marriner Floyd with Herman P. Chelius, organist and composer serving as the musical director. Under their direction, the school was first incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1896.

After the turn of the century, the Conservatory merged with the National Associated Studios of Music, and created the first "grand opera" department in the United States. In 1943, Jan Veen established The Boston Conservatory Dance Division, the first program to emphasize both classical ballet and America's emerging modern dance. In 1951, the school gained authority to award Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in drama and dance.

Currently, The Boston Conservatory is an independent private college which has accredited programs in music, dance and musical theater. The Conservatory presents more than 200 performances each year.