The Bard College Conservatory of Music is a music conservatory within Bard College, located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Established in 2005, it is unique among music conservatories in the United States in that all undergraduate students are required to participate in a five-year dual-degree program, in which both a B.M. in music and a B.A. in a subject other than music are obtained.[1] Many of the Conservatory's faculty also teach at other conservatories such as the Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute.[2]
Undergraduate faculty teach the standard orchestral/chamber music instruments and composition. The Conservatory also offers two graduate programs: the Graduate Vocal Arts Program and the Graduate Conducting Program, and a Post-graduate Collaborative Piano Fellowship in addition to a Preparatory Division.[3]
History
Plans to establish a new conservatory at Bard College were announced in 2004, with the inaugural class beginning its studies in fall 2005.[4] From its founding, the Conservatory required undergraduates to earn a Bachelor of Music (B.M.) concurrently with a traditional Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), reflecting Bard’s philosophy of integrating intensive music study with a broader liberal arts education.
In 2011, Bard received a $9.2 million gift from alumnus László Z. Bitó to construct a new teaching and performance facility for the Conservatory, later named the László Z. Bitó Conservatory Building.[5] The gift funded the creation of additional classrooms, practice spaces, and a 145-seat performance hall. As the Conservatory expanded, it also pioneered offerings in non-Western music studies, launching a collaboration with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing to introduce an undergraduate Chinese instrument performance major, reportedly the first of its kind at a Western institution.[6]
In 2019, composer and conductor Tan Dun was appointed Dean of the Conservatory.[7] Under his leadership, the Conservatory has continued to emphasize cross-cultural exchange and interdisciplinary approaches to music education.
Facilities
The László Z. Bitó Conservatory Building
The construction of the László Z. Bitó Conservatory Building began in October 2011 and was completed in January 2012. Made possible by a $9.2 million gift from Bard alumnus László Z. Bitó, class of 1960, this teaching and performance facility was designed by Deborah Berke & Partners Architects.[8]
Academic Programs
Five-Year Undergraduate Double-Degree Program
All undergraduate students at the Bard College Conservatory of Music pursue a five-year, double-degree program leading to a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Arts in a non-music field.[4] Through this format, students combine specialized music training with the broader academic requirements of Bard College. They take courses, live, and participate in campus activities with non-Conservatory undergraduates, fostering a fully integrated college experience.[9]
Graduate Programs
At the graduate level, the conservator offers:
A Graduate Vocal Arts Program, emphasizing performance and career skills through core seminars, private instruction, and workshops.[10]
A Graduate Conducting Program (choral or orchestral), co-directed by Leon Botstein and James Bagwell, leading to a Master of Music (M.M.) degree.[5]
A Post-Graduate Collaborative Piano Fellowship for pianists seeking intensive experience in collaborative performance.
In addition, the Conservatory provides an Advanced Performance Studies Program, a non-degree, four-semester course of study for highly accomplished instrumentalists who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in music.[5]
U.S. China Music Institute
The Bard US-China Music Institute of the Bard College Conservatory of Music, founded in 2018, promotes the study, performance, and appreciation of contemporary Chinese music, along with broader musical exchange programs between China and the United States.[6][11] It's offerings include:
An undergraduate degree in Chinese instrument performance, integrated into the double-degree structure.
A Master of Arts in Chinese Music and Culture (in partnership with other Bard graduate divisions).
The China Now Music Festival, an annual event highlighting music from and influenced by contemporary China.
Scholarly conferences, workshops, and seminars on Chinese musical traditions and cultural exchange.[9]
Notable Faculty
Over the years, the Conservatory has attracted faculty recognized for their achievements as performers, composers, or conductors. Early appointments included pianist Richard Goode and composer Joan Tower (the first woman to win the Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition).[4][12] Other distinguished faculty and master class guests have included:
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