Eastman School of Music

Cellist Ariunenerel Gantumur of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (by way of Seattle) (L) and Brynn Cogger of Seattle (viola) pause for a photo before moving into the Student Living Center as first year students of the class of 2027 move in at the University of Rochester Eastman School of Music August 23, 2023.

Eastman School of Music

Students sitting in the George Walker Center

Eastman School of Music

Guitarist playing at Strong Memorial Hospital

Eastman School of Music

Percussion Ensemble on Stage in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

Eastman School of Music

The Ying Quartet rehearsing

Eastman School of Music

Students on stage in Kilbourn Hall playing piano, trombone, saxophone and bass for Eastman's Black History Month showcase performance

Eastman School of Music

A man on stage in Kilbourn Hall singing with accompanying piano for the Friends of Eastman Opera competition

Eastman School of Music

Brad Lubman conducting a student rehearsal in Kilbourn Hall

Eastman School of Music

A group of students performing Vocal Jazz in Kilbourn Hall

Eastman School of Music

Eastman Wind Ensemble performing with Alexa Tarantino in Kodak Hall

Eastman School of Music

News and Updates

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NOTES

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Eastman Presents 2025-26 Season

Holocaust Remembrance concert

GWC series Spring 2025

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The Ray Conniff Jazz Ensemble Series presents Eastman Jazz Lab Band With guest Bobby Floyd, piano

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A Black and White Photo of the Eastman Jazz Lab Band

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Final performance for Director Rich Thompson

Thursday, May 1 7:30 PM Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre

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Eastman@Washington Square Celebrates its 30th Anniversary

Eastman Opera Theatre: Golijov's "Ainadamar" | APR. 3-6, 2025

Jazz Voice at the Eastman School of Music

Eastman Opera Theatre presents “Ainadamar” April 3-6, 2025

Eastman Faculty: An Inside Look with Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon

Oscar-Nominated, Emmy Award-Winning Composer Laurence Rosenthal's Return to Eastman

Two Minutes with Dean Kate Sheeran

Black History Month Showcase 2024: WALKER — String Quartet No. 1

Eastman Faculty: An Inside Look with Kathryn Cowdrick

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The official Instagram of Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester. #EastmanLife

Discover the hidden charm of Sibley Music Library!

Discover the hidden charm of Sibley Music Library! This inspiring space is open to the public seven days a week. We captured the beauty of its historic collections and stunning artwork, and invite you to come see them for yourself!

Hours, directions, and details linked in bio 📚 #SibleyMusicLibrary #MelodiesInTheStacks

🎥 Joy Lu, Sibley Music Library social media intern

Forever Rochester Week 2025 has come to a close! 💛 It was a week of handing out sweet treats, wearing Eastman swag, and learning about the collective power of philanthropy. A huge thank you to everyone who made gifts in support of our school on Student Day of Giving! #EastmanLife

OPENING TONIGHT IN KODAK HALL! Eastman Opera Theat

OPENING TONIGHT IN KODAK HALL! Eastman Opera Theatre’s “Ainadamar” runs this evening through Saturday at 7:30 PM, with a matinee performance at 2:30 PM on Sunday (April 3-6). This beautiful one-act opera is 80 minutes without intermission and will be sung in Spanish with English supertitles.

Don’t miss EOT’s final production of the 2024-25 season! Tickets linked in bio.

Introducing the newest degree offered in Eastman’s Jazz & Contemporary Media program: Jazz Voice!

Under the direction of two-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist and educator Sara Gazarek, Eastman is thrilled to continue growing our cohort of jazz singers. Just in time for Jazz Appreciation Month, we caught up with Sara and a few members of her inaugural class!

Full video linked in bio ✨ #JazzAppreciationMonth

This Sunday in Kilbourn Hall! The “fearlessly im

This Sunday in Kilbourn Hall! The “fearlessly imaginative” Ying Quartet presents its final concert of the 2024–25 Eastman-Ranlet Series at 3:00 PM on March 30. The program showcases works by early Romantic-era composer Franz Schubert and an early piece by 20th-century iconoclast Arnold Schoenberg. This performance also welcomes fellow Eastman professor and soprano Kiera Duffy to the stage!

Contributing writer Daniel J. Kushner spoke with the quartet to discuss its long-standing relationship with ESM and this weekend’s concert. The full story can be found at esm.rochester.edu/news.

Calling all prospective students! 📣 Join us for

Calling all prospective students! 📣 Join us for Eastman Experience Day on April 18, 2025!

This unique open house offers a chance to meet and hear from Eastman faculty, observe ensemble rehearsals, tour campus, and enjoy a meal in our Student Living Center. You’ll also connect with current students and learn about applying, scholarships, and dual-degree opportunities.

This event is free, but registration is required to attend! Visit esm.rochester.edu/admissions (linked in bio) to learn more and register today.

FIRST LOOK! Join Eastman Opera Theatre in Kodak Ha

FIRST LOOK! Join Eastman Opera Theatre in Kodak Hall for its spring production of “Ainadamar,” opening on April 3! This tragic one-act opera tells a story of courage and humanity during times of political unrest, inspired by the poetry and legacy of Spanish poet/playwright Federico García Lorca.

APRIL 3, 4 & 5 | 7:30 PM
APRIL 6 | 2:30 PM

General Admission: $20
One free ticket for URID holders.

To learn more & purchase tickets, visit the link in our bio or esm.rochester.edu/news 🎟️

Looking back on last week’s very special perform

Looking back on last week’s very special performance by the Eastman Philharmonia in Kodak Hall!

Under the baton of guest conductor Leonard Slatkin, violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins ’93E was invited to perform a concerto written by Jeff Beal ‘85E alongside the Philharmonia. It was a joy to welcome so many esteemed artists to the share the stage with our incredible students!

📸 Keith Bullis

BEHIND THE CURTAIN | Caroline Barata, VP of Commun

BEHIND THE CURTAIN | Caroline Barata, VP of Communications for the Eastman Queer Alliance (EQ), invites you to EQ’s inaugural concert next Wednesday, March 26! Presented as part of our George Walker Center Recital Series, “Out Loud on Stage” will celebrate the often overlooked contributions of queer composers and musicians in classical music.

Here Caroline, a soprano, talks about the performance and gives a peek into her rehearsal with Kai Harrington, mezzo-soprano and Mary Reins, soprano. They are singing Caroline Shaw’s “Dolce Cantavi.” #EastmanLife #ESMStudentTakeover

Out Loud on Stage
Wednesday, March 26 | 7:30 PM
Hatch Recital Hall
Free & open to public
More info: esm.rochester.edu/events

Gaelen McCormick, Director of Eastman Performing A

Gaelen McCormick, Director of Eastman Performing Arts Medicine (EPAM), has experienced music’s ability to stir the soul from her time as a double bass performer. But it was an illness that led to hearing loss in both ears that gave her a new understanding of just how healing music can be.

EPAM and the Institute for Music Leadership invite you to attend a FREE virtual symposium on March 28 & April 3, 2025, led by McCormick. Titled “The Power of Music in Medicine: Musicians’ Impact and Pathways to Healthcare Performances,” these interactive sessions will look at how music and health come together.
#EverBetter

Learn more & register at the link in bio or by visiting esm.rochester.edu/news.

🎥 Excerpt from a University of Rochester interview with EPAM Director Gaelen McCormick, Eastman’s former dean Jamal Rossi, IML Director Rachel Roberts, and URMC SVP Michael Rotondo (May 2024). Full video at YouTube.com/EastmanSchool

Calling all young music leaders! Eastman’s Insti

Calling all young music leaders! Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership invites you to apply for our Leadership Academy, a fully remote program to support new and developing careers in the musical arts. June 9-13, 2025.

Accepting only 25 participants, all attendees receive a full scholarship that covers the Academy tuition ✨ Applications are due MARCH 31, 2025! Visit iml.esm.rochester.edu (linked in bio) to learn more & apply!

This is the energy that Mountain Stage with Kathy

This is the energy that Mountain Stage with Kathy Mattea is bringing to Rochester next week! 💥 Join us on Friday, March 21 at 7:00 PM for a live taping of this beloved NPR radio show in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre! Mattea will be joined by guest artists Loudon Wainwright III, Janiva Magness, John Ellison, Joe Beard, Dan Navarro, and Ali McGuirk!

For 40 years, NPR’s Mountain Stage has been an institution, broadcasting thousands of unforgettable live performances by rising stars and veteran legends alike.

For tickets and more information, please visit EastmanTheatre.org (linked in bio) 🎟️ Don’t wait! These seats are going fast!

This performance is presented in partnership with WRUR | The Route.

Considered “one of the greatest guitarists of al

Considered “one of the greatest guitarists of all time” (Rolling Stone), Trey Anastasio, a founding member of the innovative rock band Phish, performed a very special solo acoustic set to a SOLD OUT Kodak Hall last night!

Following his soundcheck, Dean Kate Sheeran (who grew up listening to Phish in Vermont, where the band originated) spent some time with Trey and invited him to sign Eastman’s historic guestbook!

Visit EastmanTheatre.org to keep up with the many iconic artists performing at ESM on a regular basis! Up Next: a live recording of NPR’s “Mountain Stage with Kathy Mattea” on March 21 in Kodak Hall!

At Eastman, we often refer to the middle of the we

At Eastman, we often refer to the middle of the week as “Walker Wednesday,” in reference to events regularly held on that day at our George Walker Center!

Since today is the Wednesday of spring break, there were no events on campus… but it feels right to share photos from last month’s Black History Month showcase which kicked off this semester’s GWC Recital Series ✨ Enjoy these captures from a wonderful performance!

📸 Matt Wittmeyer

When you realize that it’s spring break AND the

When you realize that it’s spring break AND the days are longer? High five to that! ☀️ Enjoy your week off, students!

📸 John Schlia

Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership is curr

Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership is currently hosting “Eastman Career Week” for our students! To accompany the in-person activities, Abby Hanna ‘25E, a member of IML’s marketing team, has been interviewing faculty members and asking them to give their best advice for musicians early in their careers. Featured here is Professor of Trumpet Andrew McCandless! 💥

More info about the IML is linked in our bio! #EastmanCareerWeek

Happy Women’s History Month! To honor the many s

Happy Women’s History Month! To honor the many significant accomplishments by women throughout Eastman’s history, we’ve compiled some of the incredible ‘firsts’ that have occurred here in the last 100 years.

This tribute can be viewed in Lowry Hall — recently installed near the staircase — or by visiting Eastman’s News Room online (linked in bio).

Pictured is Barbara Duncan, the first head librarian of Eastman’s Sibley Music Library, who played a significant role in developing our world-class collection of rare imprints! #WomensHistoryMonth

Mark your calendars for March 19 in Kodak Hall! Es

Mark your calendars for March 19 in Kodak Hall! Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, celebrated violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins ’93E, and the Eastman Philharmonia will take the stage at 7:30 PM to present works by Ives, Shostakovich, and Jeff Beal ’85E.

Hall-Tompkins will be featured on “Body in Motion,” a violin concerto written for her by Beal. She and Slatkin premiered the piece together in America and Europe, and are thrilled to now play it for the Eastman and Rochester community!

This event is free and open to the public. Details linked in bio or visit esm.rochester.edu/news.

📸 1, 2, 4 & 6: Provided by Kelly Hall-Tompkins; 3 & 5: Matt Wittmeyer

TWO MINUTES WITH DEAN SHEERAN: In this video, Dean

TWO MINUTES WITH DEAN SHEERAN: In this video, Dean Kate Sheeran discusses elements of our school’s mission with a nod to Eastman’s future!

“We educate musicians to go out into the world and use music as a tool for anything that they dream about.”

Follow us on YouTube for more glimpses into life and learning at ESM: YouTube.com/EastmanSchool 🎞️

Eastman hit the slopes! ❄️ Rochester is COVERE

Eastman hit the slopes! ❄️ Rochester is COVERED in snow at the moment, so last weekend our Student Living Center hosted a ski trip! #EastmanLife

📸 @eastmanosa

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