Chicago Musical College
Encyclopedia
Chicago Musical College is a division of Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
It was founded in 1867, less than four decades after the city of Chicago
was incorporated. It has given over a hundred years of uninterrupted service to music and music education and has played an important role in the development of the cultural life of the Midwest.
In 1865, after initial efforts to establish a Florenz Ziegfeld
, Sr. as its director. (Ziegfeld Sr. was the father of Florenz Jr. who is better known as a successful and trail-blazing Broadway
impresario.)
Two years later, in 1867, Ziegfeld established his own Chicago Academy of Music, the fourth conservatory in America. In 1871, the conservatory moved to a new building which was destroyed only a few weeks later by the Great Chicago Fire
; despite the conflagration, the College was again up and running by the end of the year.
In 1872, the school changed its name to Chicago Musical College; over 900 students were enrolled in that year. A Normal Teachers' Institute was added to the school's offerings. Tuition in those far-off days cost an average of one dollar per lesson. Four years later the State of Illinois accredited the College as a degree granting institution of higher learning. A Preparatory Division was opened which established branches throughout the city.
Rudolph Ganz
joined CMC's faculty in 1900 and, except for a brief hiatus in the 1920s, remained associated with the school until his death in 1972. In 1917, CMC offered a Master of Music Degree, and seven years later the School became a charter member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
By 1925, the College moved into its own eleven-story building at 64 E. Van Buren
Street. One hundred and twenty-five names appeared on the faculty roster for that year, and the School opened three dormitory floors for students. In 1936, CMC was admitted as a full member to the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the only independent music college in the Midwest to enjoy such status. By 1947 the College was offering Doctorates in Fine Arts and Music Education.
In 1954, CMC merged with Roosevelt University
's School of Music which was founded in 1945. The name "Chicago Musical College" was retained for the new college which was created by the union of the two schools. All operations moved to join the University in the now national landmark Auditorium Building at 430 South Michigan Avenue
in Chicago's Loop
. The building houses one of the finest auditoriums in the world, in addition to the Rudolph Ganz Memorial Recital Hall.
In the Fall of 1997 Roosevelt established a College of Performing Arts
which joined Chicago Musical College and the Theater Program under one administrative unit led by founding dean Donald Steven
. In 2000, under the leadership of new dean James Gandre, the name was changed to Chicago College of Performing Arts. The College has two divisions: The Music Conservatory and The Theatre Conservatory.
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
It was founded in 1867, less than four decades after the city of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
was incorporated. It has given over a hundred years of uninterrupted service to music and music education and has played an important role in the development of the cultural life of the Midwest.
In 1865, after initial efforts to establish a Florenz Ziegfeld
Florenz Ziegfeld
Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. , , was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the Ziegfeld Follies , inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris. He also produced the musical Show Boat...
, Sr. as its director. (Ziegfeld Sr. was the father of Florenz Jr. who is better known as a successful and trail-blazing Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
impresario.)
Two years later, in 1867, Ziegfeld established his own Chicago Academy of Music, the fourth conservatory in America. In 1871, the conservatory moved to a new building which was destroyed only a few weeks later by the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
; despite the conflagration, the College was again up and running by the end of the year.
In 1872, the school changed its name to Chicago Musical College; over 900 students were enrolled in that year. A Normal Teachers' Institute was added to the school's offerings. Tuition in those far-off days cost an average of one dollar per lesson. Four years later the State of Illinois accredited the College as a degree granting institution of higher learning. A Preparatory Division was opened which established branches throughout the city.
Rudolph Ganz
Rudolph Ganz
Rudolph Ganz was a Swiss pianist, conductor and composer. He claimed direct descent from Charlemagne.-Biography:...
joined CMC's faculty in 1900 and, except for a brief hiatus in the 1920s, remained associated with the school until his death in 1972. In 1917, CMC offered a Master of Music Degree, and seven years later the School became a charter member of the National Association of Schools of Music.
By 1925, the College moved into its own eleven-story building at 64 E. Van Buren
Van Buren
-Places:*Van Buren County, Arkansas*Van Buren County, Iowa*Van Buren County, Michigan*Van Buren County, Tennessee*Van Buren, Arkansas*Van Buren, Indiana*Van Buren, Maine*Van Buren Township, Michigan*Van Buren, Missouri*Van Buren, New York*Van Buren, Ohiod...
Street. One hundred and twenty-five names appeared on the faculty roster for that year, and the School opened three dormitory floors for students. In 1936, CMC was admitted as a full member to the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the only independent music college in the Midwest to enjoy such status. By 1947 the College was offering Doctorates in Fine Arts and Music Education.
In 1954, CMC merged with Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
's School of Music which was founded in 1945. The name "Chicago Musical College" was retained for the new college which was created by the union of the two schools. All operations moved to join the University in the now national landmark Auditorium Building at 430 South Michigan Avenue
Michigan Avenue (Chicago)
Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
in Chicago's Loop
Chicago Loop
The Loop or Chicago Loop is one of 77 officially designated Chicago community areas located in the City of Chicago, Illinois. It is the historic commercial center of downtown Chicago...
. The building houses one of the finest auditoriums in the world, in addition to the Rudolph Ganz Memorial Recital Hall.
In the Fall of 1997 Roosevelt established a College of Performing Arts
The Music Conservatory of Chicago College of Performing Arts
The Music Conservatory was founded in 1867 as the Chicago Musical College, a conservatory whose primary focus was the intensive and rigorous training of young men and women preparing for careers as professional musicians...
which joined Chicago Musical College and the Theater Program under one administrative unit led by founding dean Donald Steven
Donald Steven
Donald Steven is a Canadian-American composer, music educator, and academic administrator. A member of the Canadian League of Composers and an associate of the Canadian Music Centre, he won a BMI Student Composer Award in 1970, the Canadian Federation of University Women's Golden Jubilee Creative...
. In 2000, under the leadership of new dean James Gandre, the name was changed to Chicago College of Performing Arts. The College has two divisions: The Music Conservatory and The Theatre Conservatory.
- Source from written by Don Draganski, edited by Brian Wis.