• About Us

  • Now in its second century as a dynamic center of musical learning, Mannes School of Music at the New School is a standard bearer for innovative artistry, dedicated to developing citizen artists who engage their communities and the world through music. Mannes upholds a rich tradition of pedagogical excellence established by founders David and Clara Mannes in 1916. Celebrated recitalists and visionary educators, David and Clara sought to educate the whole person within each student, developing a strong technical foundation for music making while also instilling a sense of what it means to live a creative and meaningful life. Today the founders’ vision is alive and well, and Mannes students graduate prepared with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to thrive as artists in the 21st century.

    Through its undergraduate, graduate, and preparatory programs, Mannes offers a curriculum as imaginative as it is rigorous, taught by world-class faculty and visiting artists. Beyond gaining mastery through private lessons, ensemble experiences, master classes, and a thorough grounding in theory imparted by the renowned Techniques of Music department, students benefit from Mannes’ leading-edge cross-disciplinary approach. As part of The New School’s College of Performing Arts, together with the School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and the School of Drama, Mannes affords students unique opportunities for collaborative work. Projects extend beyond the college’s walls to include students across The New School, as well as prominent arts organizations across the country.

    Mannes is located on The New School’s Greenwich Village campus at the newly renovated Arnhold Hall. Shared with the Jazz and Drama schools, the building hums with creative practice and exploration, culminating in performances across campus as well as at prestigious New York venues such as City Center, Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Mannes proudly maintains a long-standing tradition of providing access to free and affordable performances for the public, including John Zorn’s groundbreaking experimental music venue, The Stone, which is located in the Glassbox Theater at Arnhold Hall.

    Mannes’ distinguished alumni include the 20th-century songwriting legend Burt Bacharach; the great pianists Richard Goode, Murray Perahia, and Bill Evans; acclaimed conductors Semyon Bychkov, Myung-Whun Chung, JoAnn Falletta, and Julius Rudel; music theorist and educator Carl Schachter; pathbreaking jazz fusion guitarist Larry Coryell; beloved mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade and opera stars of today like Yonghoon Lee, Danielle de Niese, and Nadine Sierra; and Pulitzer Prize-winning arts journalist Tim Page.

  • Since 1916, Mannes has trained artists to engage with the world around them through music. Learn more about our history and the legends who have walked our halls.

  • Dean Richard Kessler is leading Mannes to address and embrace the rapidly changing world of music, and what it means to be an artist in the 21st century.

  • Mannes students benefit from our robust network of partner relationships with significant artists and organizations across New York City and around the world.

  • Take The Next Step

Submit your application

Undergraduates

To apply to any of our undergraduate programs (except the Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs) complete and submit the Common App online.

Undergraduate Adult Learners

To apply to any of our Bachelor's Program for Adults and Transfer Students and Parsons Associate of Applied Science programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

Graduates

To apply to any of our Master's, Doctoral, Professional Studies Diploma, and Graduate Certificate programs, complete and submit the New School Online Application.

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