|
PRESS CONTACTS Jennifer Kallend Elizabeth Racheva Nikki Scandalios
|
Curtis Engages a Global Online Community of Music Lovers with a Repeat of From the Repertoire: Western Music History Free online course from Curtis returns to Coursera on September 25 PHILADELPHIA, PA–August 28, 2014–The Curtis Institute of Music continues to connect with a worldwide community of music lovers through free online classes on Coursera, a leader in massive open online course (MOOC) education. From the Repertoire: Western Music History through Performance will begin a second session on September 25. First offered in Fall 2013, the interactive course attracted over 18,000 students from 104 countries. Registration is now open at http://www.coursera.org/curtis. Designed for students of any background who want to learn more about classical music–particularly life-enrichment learners, whether amateur musicians or audience members–the course combines lectures with lively forum discussions and a global community of peers. Jonathan Coopersmith, chair of musical studies at Curtis, and David Ludwig, composition faculty and dean of artistic programs, explore eight important works that span Western classical music history, discussing the historical context, composer, musical significance, and compositional design. Works by J. S. Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Schoenberg, and George Crumb are brought to life through audio or video recordings by Curtis students, alumni, and faculty. Guest interviews offer special insight into performance, improvisation, and contemporary composition, and in-person and online sessions with the faculty members are being planned. The Curtis Institute of Music, the first classical music conservatory to utilize a MOOC platform in partnership with Coursera, reached over 57,000 students in more than 135 countries with the first two courses offered on the platform. Taught by the same faculty members who train the world’s finest young musicians at Curtis, the courses are designed specifically for Coursera. Committed to building and educating classical music audiences around the world, Curtis will reach more than double the number of people who attend its student performances in Philadelphia each year through these online courses. One of the world’s finest and most selective conservatories, the Curtis Institute of Music offers a tuition-free, performance-inspired learning culture to 175 students from all corners of the world. Nurtured by a celebrated faculty, its extraordinary young musicians graduate to join 4,000 alumni who have long made music history. From Leonard Bernstein to Alan Gilbert, Samuel Barber to Jennifer Higdon, Anna Moffo to Eric Owens, Richard Goode to Jonathan Biss, Curtis alumni personify the school’s commitment to excellence–onstage and in their communities–inventing careers with impact. A busy schedule of performances, including more than 200 a year in Philadelphia and around the world, is at the heart of Curtis’s distinctive “learn by doing” approach. Dedicated to a tradition of excellence and innovation since its founding in 1924, Curtis is looking toward its centenary in a flexible and forward-thinking way, evolving strategically to serve its time-honored mission. # # # |
