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Colburn School

The Colburn School is a private performing arts school in Los Angeles with a focus on music and dance. It consists of four divisions: the Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, Community School of Performing Arts and the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Founded in 1950, the school is named after its principal benefactor, Richard D. Colburn.[2]

For the Massachusetts historic school, see Colburn School (Lowell, Massachusetts).

Programs[edit]

The Conservatory of Music provides tertiary level degree programs to students. Currently, degrees offered are Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Performance Diploma, Artist Diploma and Professional Studies Certificate. All students receive full scholarship including housing and stipends.[9] The Dean of the Conservatory is Lee Cioppa.


In 2019, the Conservatory instituted the Negaunee Conducting Program.[10] Led by conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, the program offers either undergraduate or graduate conducting diplomas. In addition to working with various ensembles within the school, fellows join the conducting staff at the San Francisco Symphony and serve as assistant conductors to Salonen for his international engagements.[11]


The Music Academy is the Colburn School's pre-collegiate division and teaches gifted students between the ages of 14 and 18. The program's curriculum includes music theory, ear training, music history and chamber music.[12]


The Community School of Performing Arts serves all ages through to 18 and offers classes for piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, jazz, voice and choir, ensembles, and drama among other disciplines.[13] The Dean of the Community School is Susan Cook.


The Dance Academy is the flagship program of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute and is designed to prepare dancers between the ages of 14 and 19 for professional careers.[14] The curriculum has a focus on classical ballet while also providing instruction for other styles. The Dean of the Dance Academy is Margaret Tracey.[15]

Admission[edit]

Admission to the Colburn Conservatory of Music is highly competitive. In an unidentified year, 26 were accepted from 500 applicants for a 5% acceptance rate.[16] Approximately 120 students attend the Conservatory of Music and more than 1700 are enrolled in classes at the Community School of Performing Arts.[17][18] Around 50 students study at the Music Academy and 25 in the Dance Academy.[19][20]

– singer-songwriter and violinist

Emilie Autumn

– composer and jazz pianist

Kris Bowers

– ensemble

Calder Quartet

– ensemble

Calidore String Quartet

– violinist

Robert Chen

– composer and jazz pianist

Billy Childs

– soprano

Danielle de Niese

– violinist

Lindsay Deutsch

– violinist

Tim Fain

– tubist

Aubrey Foard

– violinist

Jennifer Frautschi

– pianist

David Fung

– actor

Anthony Gonzalez

– clarinetist

José González Granero

– violinist

William Hagen

– violinist

Leila Josefowicz

– violinist

Tamaki Kawakubo

– violinist

Fabiola Kim

– producer, songwriter and jazz bassist

Larry Klein

– violinist

Amadéus Leopold

– violinist

Geneva Lewis

– violinist

Anne Akiko Meyers

– jazz bassist

Miles Mosley

– violist

Nokuthula Ngwenyama

– violinist

Blake Pouliot

– jazz pianist

Eric Reed

– jazz pianist and R&B singer[29]

Patrice Rushen

– cellist

Julian Schwarz

– pianist

Albert Cano Smit

– double bassist

Mikyung Sung

– bassist and songwriter[30]

Thundercat

– conductor[31]

Michael Tilson Thomas

– jazz pianist

Donald Vega

– ensemble

Viano Quartet

– cellist

Paul Wiancko

Official website