Manhattan School of Music

06/02/2026

Congratulations to Musical Theatre alumnus Galvin Yuan (BM '23) who has joined national tour of Beetlejuice The Musical as part of the ensemble cast! 👏🎶 The tour is running from February 2026 through June 2027. Learn more here: https://beetlejuicebroadway.com/

05/29/2026

Congratulations to MSM Composition alumnus Dr. Alfonso Molina (MM '10) -- the musical he has created with his sister Mayu Molina Lehmann "Monarch: A Mexican-American Musical" will have its Off-Broadway debut from July 23–26 at The American Theatre for Actors as part of the Midtown International Theatre Festival in NYC.

The musical tells the story of an "undocumented handyman navigating love, loss, and legacy. Inspired by the migration of Monarch butterflies, it follows his journey for sanctuary." It was previously staged in Los Angeles where it received a rave review in the Los Angeles Times, as well as in Washington, D.C. and at Harvard University.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monarch-the-mexican-american-musical-tickets-1989267093426?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/28/2026

On This Date in 1965:

Contralto Marian Anderson gives the commencement address at MSM’s graduation ceremony [shown with graduating students and President John Brownlee].

05/22/2026

FIRST LOOK 👀 Thanks to everyone who made Commencement 2026 happen! Congratulations to the Class of 2026, and a special shout-out to our Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts recipients: J'Nai Bridges, Misty Copeland, Jane Chu, Donna McKechnie, and Jason Moran, as well as our Student Commencement Speaker, Owne Zayboury (BM ’26)! Enjoy these first-look photos from the special day!

📸:

05/21/2026

On This Date in 1965, 1968, and 1978:

The Opera Theatre presents the first of two performances [1965] of its production of “Béatrice et Bénédict” by Hector Berlioz;

Janet Daniels Schenck, Manhattan School of Music founder and Director Emeritus, receives the Handel Medallion of the City of New York [1968] at a Philharmonic Hall reception in honor of the School’s 50th Anniversary [Dr. Schenck is shown cutting a celebratory cake presented by Steinway & Sons, with MSM Board Chair William Borden, left, and Metropolitan Opera bass-baritone George London, right];

And conductor Raymond Leppard gives the Address [1978] at the College Division’s graduation ceremony.

05/21/2026

TODAY at 1 PM, Watch the livestream of the MSM 2026 Commencement at this link: https://www.msmnyc.edu/campus/student-affairs/commencement-2026/

And here on The Violin Channel read about our Honorary Doctorate Recipients being honored today!

https://theviolinchannel.com/manhattan-school-of-music-names-honorary-doctorate-recipients-for-2026/

Mezzo-soprano and Metropolitan Opera artist J'Nai Bridges will deliver the Commencement Address.

05/19/2026

MSM Spotlight: Meet Owne Xayboury (BM ’27), this year's Student Commencement Speaker. We spoke with Owne about his time at MSM, his parting words for his class, and his most memorable MSM memory. Read our full conversation below!

Meet this year's student commencement speaker, Owne Xayboury (BM ’26), Classical Viola! We spoke with Owne about his time at MSM, his parting words for his class, and his most memorable MSM memory. The student commencement speaker selection process includes open nominations by the graduating class...

05/18/2026

NEWS RELEASE: J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09), Jane Chu, Misty Copeland, Donna McKechnie, and Jason Moran (BM ’97) to receive Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Manhattan School of Music Commencement Ceremony, Thursday, May 21. Read the full press release here:

J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09), Jane Chu, Misty Copeland, Donna McKechnie, and Jason Moran (BM ’97) to receive Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at Manhattan School of Music Commencement Ceremony

05/14/2026

On This Date in 1957, 1979, 2000, and 2016:

The School presents a double bill [1957] featuring the New York Premiere of Norman Dello Joio’s opera “The Ruby” and the American Premiere of “Rita” by Gaetano Donizetti;

Works by student composers (Rick Baitz, David Baldwin, Edward Bilous, Chris DeBlasio, Randall Packer and Rand Steiger) are featured in a program [1979] in collaboration with several dancers, “the first time the school has collaborated with the professional dance medium”;

The College Division Commencement is held [2000], where composer Ned Rorem receives an honorary doctorate and the Address is given by James Gandre, Dean of Enrollment and Alumni;

The first-ever incoming Freshman Class for the new degree program in Musical Theatre gathers at a reception [2016] in the President's Residence.