Programs

Coursework is designed to meet the unique needs of the contemporary performer. Required academic classes include Contemporary Musicianship, Contemporary Music Survey, and Advanced Practicum.

Required performance related classes include Contemporary Ensemble, Composer Workshop/Reading, Composer/Performer Project, and Performing with Electronics.

Weekly lessons provide a forum for in-depth study of classical contemporary music. Students choose electives from the wide array of advanced courses available at MSM.

Students in the Contemporary Performance Program form the core of Tactus, Manhattan School of Music’s premier contemporary ensemble. Students focus on many aspects of contemporary music study, including performance with electronics, improvisation, and overall stylistic fluency. Tactus presents 6 public concerts per year. Each of the 6 concert cycles includes rehearsals, coachings with faculty and composers, repertoire classes, and performances in one of MSM’s glorious halls.

Review of Tactus:

“The deepest, grandest noise of the musical season so far”
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker

Since its inception in 2007, the MSM Contemporary Program has been a launchpad for career musicians, artists, and bandleaders in the field, resulting in exciting collaborations and successful ensembles.

Notable alumni include award-winning composer/instrumentalist Andy Akiho, pianist Vicky Chow of the Bang On a Can All-Stars. Olivia de Prato and Victor Lowrie Tafoya of Mivos Quartet, Andy Kozar and William Lang of Loadbang, Leah Asher, Marina Kifferstein, Carrie Frey and Meagan Burke of The Rhythm Method Quartet, Josh Modney and Mariel Roberts of Wet Ink Ensemble, Jeffrey Gavett and Charlotte Mundy of ekmeles plus Laura Cocks and Ellery Trafford of TAK Ensemble, Hannah Levinson of AndPlay Duo, Erika Dohi of Righteous Girls and Isabel “Izzy” Lepanto Gleicher of International Contemporary Ensemble, Ford Fourqurean of unheard-of//ensemble, Caitlin Cawley of Talujon Percussion, Kelley Barnett of Mise-en,  and Yoshi Weinberg, and Stefanie Proulx of InfraSound.