The Mannes College of Music is a music school located in New York City, in the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Originally called Mannes Music School, it was founded in 1916 by David Mannes , concertmaster of the New York Symphony Orchestra and Clara Damrosch , brother of Walter Damrosch , then conductor of that orchestra. It was created out of three brownstones on East 74th St, in Manhattan's Upper East Side. In 1953 Mannes started offering degrees changed its name to the Mannes College of Music, and it was then that Felix Salzer organized Mannes's signature Techniques of Music program. In 1984 Mannes moved to its current home on West 85th St. In 1989 Mannes joined New School University.
Mannes is small in size and dedicated to providing a complete musical education. The "Techniques of Music" program is the foundation for academic musical study, encompassing advanced music theory, ear training, and dictation classes, all students at Mannes are expected to be well rounded in the musical studies, beyond their particular major or field. Mannes's esteemed faculty is active in New York City's musical scene, and many are members of the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and New York City Opera, as well as mainting active freelance or solo careers. Mannes is the host of several hundred concerts per year. Performed by both students and faculty, these concerts feature a wide variety of classical music from throughout history, including many modern premiers of works composed by the students and faculty at Mannes.