Eastman School of Music - Administration

Administration

Since the founding of the Eastman School of Music in 1921, the school has been directed by six men. Alfred Klingenberg served as the school’s first director from 1921 to 1923. After a one-year interim under Acting Director Raymond Wilson, the young American composer and conductor Howard Hanson was appointed director of the school in 1924. Dr. Hanson is credited for transforming the Eastman School into one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the world. Upon his retirement in 1964, after serving as director of the school for 40 years, Hanson was then succeeded by conductor Walter Hendl. Hendl served as director from 1964 to 1972, and was then succeeded by pianist and musicologist Robert Freeman who served from 1972 to 1996. Associate Director Daniel Patrylak served as the acting director from the time of Mr. Hendl’s resignation (May 1972) until Robert Freeman assumed the position in July 1973. Following the resignation of Robert Freeman in 1996, James Undercofler was then appointed Director and Dean of the Eastman School, and held that position until he resigned in 2006 to accept the position of C.E.O. and President of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Jamal Rossi, an Eastman alumnus, was appointed Interim Dean of the Eastman School in April 2006. On May 21, 2007, composer/conductor Douglas Lowry, formerly the dean of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, was appointed Dean of the Eastman School, to begin serving on August 1, 2007 .

• Alfred Klingenberg (Director, 1921–1923)
• Raymond Wilson (Acting Director, 1923–1924)
• Howard Hanson (Director, 1924–1964)
• Walter Hendl (Director, 1964–1972)
• Daniel Patrylak (Acting Director, 1972–1973)
• Robert Freeman (Director, 1973–1996)
• James Undercofler (Acting Director, 1996–1997; Director, 1997–2006)
• Jamal Rossi (Acting Director, 2006–2007)
• Douglas Lowry (Director, 2007–present)