The Eastman School Of Music
George Eastman was the founder of the Eastman Kodak Co. and the Eastman
School of Music. He also made the Eastman School of Music the first professional
school of the University of Rochester. The Eastman Theatre and the Eastman
School have been around for 75 years as of this year, according to history.
The Eastman School was named one of the top music schools in the world.
The achievements and accomplishments that the school have made reflect on
it's wonderful performances and programs. Eastman is also well known for
it's reputation for classes in the humanities and liberal arts classes.
With many professional opportunities for musicians always changing,
school programs such as the Arts Leadership Program prepare students to
be fearless advocates, audience gatherers, dreamful educators, and inventive
performers. The Eastman School students recieve bachelor's, master's, and
doctoral degrees in many areas such as conducting, contemporary media and
being a pianist or an organist. Since the fall program of 1993 there is
also a group for guitarists.
During a year there is approximately 800 gradutate and non-graduate
students that go to school at the Eastman School of Music. Basicly at least
every month, in one of the Eastman Theatre's ensemble performances, every
student performs. For example one of the performances is Carnival, an award-winning
novel and play.
Out of the country the Eastman Philhamonic Orchestra is considered one
of the greatest. The RPO (also known as the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
has played not only at the Eastman Theatre (it's home) but in many different
festivals also. Many of the students who graduate adventuly join one of
the Eastman programs, such as the RPO.
Different students have achieved very highly and have been awarded writing
and composing awards.
I believe that if the Eastman Theatre and Music School were never opened
and George Eastman had never been born, Rochester would not be Rochester.
By Julia & Alyssa
One of our community contacts was Mr. Tim Stodd,
an Eastman School graduate. Here are 2 questions we asked him that involve
the Eastman School Of Music.
1. Why did you come so far to attend Eastman School of Music?
Eastman is recognized as one of the best music schools in the *world*,
and it is very highly regarded at University of Oregon, where I did my undergraduate
study. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to audition, and was even
more thrilled that I was accepted.
2. What are your favorite shows that you performed in Rochester?
In no particular order:
1985: "Soldier's Tale" (Stravinsky) at Eastman. Highly acclaimed
performance, done with some soon-to-be-very-famous musicians (some are now
with the NY Phil., etc.)
1985: "Rip Off" with the Eastman Percussion Ensemble. Each
player improvised a solo, then threw off an article of clothing! At the
end, they were standing only in their shorts!
1986: Conducted the Eastman Marimba Band in Frank Zappa's "Black
Page".
