The Mannes School of Music, part of The New School in New York City, cultivates artists through a unique blend of rigorous training and real-world experience.
As a college counselor specializing in music admissions, I’ve seen firsthand how Mannes leverages its NYC location and New School affiliation to prepare musicians for 21st-century careers.
Founded in 1916 by David Mannes and Clara Damrosch, Mannes has evolved from a community music school into a world-class conservatory.
The founders’ vision of music as an essential part of life continues to shape the school’s ethos, attracting notable faculty throughout its history.
In 1940, Leopold Mannes transformed the institution into a degree-granting college, and its 1984 merger with The New School further expanded opportunities for students.
Today, Mannes maintains its commitment to musical excellence while adapting to the changing landscape of the profession.
For aspiring musicians seeking a balance between tradition and innovation, Mannes offers a compelling option.
Its dedication to both artistic development and community engagement makes it a standout choice in the competitive world of music education.
Let’s talk about the school’s acceptance rate, faculty, and more.
Mannes College of Music Acceptance Rate
The general acceptance rate into Mannes is 33%.
This statistic comes from the school’s own website, where they state they accept “about one third of applicants.”
While competitive, this acceptance rate also suggests that Mannes is more accessible than some of the most elite conservatories, potentially offering talented students a greater chance of admission.
As with any music school, however, prospective students should remember that auditions and musical ability play a crucial role in the admissions decision, alongside academic credentials.
Mannes College of Music Quick Facts
Here are some quick facts about the Mannes College of Music:
Number of students: Approximately 350
Tuition: $56,000
Tips for Getting Accepted into Mannes
Mannes offers several pre-college programs that can help you become familiar with the school and its faculty.
These range from programs for 4-year-olds to high school seniors, giving students of all ages the opportunity to experience Mannes’ educational approach.
Taking part in these programs can demonstrate your interest in the school.
Summer programs at Mannes provide another excellent way to engage with the institution. Options include the Mannes Summer Piano Festival, Sandbox Percussion Summer Seminar, and Music at Mannes for younger students (grades 3-6). These programs can enhance your skills and give you valuable exposure to the Mannes environment.
In my experience as a college consultant, I’ve found that many Mannes faculty members are open to offering trial lessons to prospective students.
This can be an invaluable opportunity to network with potential future professors and get a feel for the teaching style at Mannes. Don’t hesitate to reach out and request these one-on-one sessions, as they can significantly boost your application and audition preparation.
Mannes Ranking
Mannes seems to have wildly diverse rankings, based on the publication evaluating the school, anywhere from a top-10 schools to a top-100 school.
Here are some of Mannes’ rankings.
Keep in mind that rankings for music programs are extraordinarily subjective and that we are not necessarily endorsing or agreeing with these or any rankings table.
- Niche ranking: #51 (for The New School as a whole).
- thebestschools.org: #5
There aren’t many rankings guides online for music schools, and these are the only two I could find for music programs, including The New School.
Notable Faculty at Mannes
The Mannes School of Music boasts an impressive faculty roster, featuring some of the most accomplished musicians in the industry. This caliber of instruction is a significant draw for prospective students:
Richard Goode, a Grammy award-winning pianist celebrated worldwide, brings unparalleled expertise to the piano department.
The school’s connection to the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is evident through faculty like Principal Violist Milan Milisavljević, who also teaches at NYU, offering students insights into the highest levels of orchestral performance.
Modern classical composition is represented by Pulitzer Prize finalist Mary Kouyoumdjian, while popular cellist Matt Haimovitz, with over 30,000 monthly Spotify listeners, is among the more popular solo cellists today.
Toyin Spellman-Diaz, renowned oboist and original member of the busy Imani Winds chamber group, adds her extensive performance experience to the wind faculty.
The diverse faculty also includes harpist Brandee Younger, who has collaborated with pop icons like John Legend and Stevie Wonder, and Jeffrey Ziegler, a cellist with eight years of experience in the innovative Kronos Quartet.
This mixture of artists of different backgrounds provides Mannes students with a comprehensive, modern musical education.
Notable Alumni at Mannes
Mannes School of Music has helped launch the career of many important musicians not only in classical music, but contemporary styles as well.
Nadine Sierra, a popular young vocalist of today, exemplifies the high-caliber performers that emerge from Mannes.
The school’s composition program boasts Pulitzer Prize-winning alumna Shulamit Ran, who has been on the faculty of the University of Chicago for 50 years. Murray Perahia, one of the most renowned pianists of the 20th and 21st centuries, also studied at Mannes.
The diversity of Mannes alumni is striking. Legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach, known for over fifty top-40 hits, including “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head,” studied here. Jazz piano icon Bill Evans is another notable alumnus of the Mannes program at The New School.
In the classical vocal world, Frederica Von Stade, celebrated for her Rossini and Mozart interpretations, also calls Mannes her alma mater.
The school’s influence extends to the podium with alumni like Semyon Bychkov, now artistic director of the prestigious Czech Philharmonic.
In the realm of contemporary and alternative music, percussionist Susie Ibarra, ranked by SPIN as one of the “100 Greatest Drummers of Alternative Music,” further showcases the versatility of Mannes graduates.
Determining Whether Mannes Is the Right Fit for You
If you’re drawn to the opportunities of New York City, Mannes is an awesome option.
Its location in downtown Manhattan places you among one of the world’s most dynamic music scenes, providing options for networking, performances, and cultural experiences.
Mannes is an excellent choice for those seeking instruction from top-tier faculty. The school shares many professors with other prestigious NYC institutions, ensuring access to some of the industry’s most accomplished musicians and educators.
Students looking for a university program rather than a standalone conservatory will find Mannes appealing. As part of The New School, it offers a broader educational experience that can complement your musical studies.
However, if you prefer a less urban environment, a college town program might be more suitable. The fast-paced NYC lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and some students may thrive better in a more traditional campus setting.
Ultimately, if you’re excited by the prospect of studying in the heart of Manhattan and want to immerse yourself in a diverse, challenging musical environment, Mannes could be an excellent fit.
