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.
Read more about this topic: Boston Conservatory
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“History is not what you thought. It is what you can remember. All other history defeats itself.
In Beverly Hills ... they don’t throw their garbage away. They make it into television shows.
Idealism is the despot of thought, just as politics is the despot of will.”
—Mikhail Bakunin (1814–1876)
““And now this is the way in which the history of your former life has reached my ears!” As he said this he held out in his hand the fatal letter.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“All objects, all phases of culture are alive. They have voices. They speak of their history and interrelatedness. And they are all talking at once!”
—Camille Paglia (b. 1947)