History and Mission of the Peabody Institute

From visits by Peter Tchaikovsky to Leonard Bernstein, to lectures by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Igor Stravinsky, the Peabody Institute has seen some of history's most revered talent walk through its doors. But the most inspiring talents are the students who traverse the Institute's corridors and perform in its concert halls every day.

Located in the historic and cultural heart of Baltimore, the Peabody is one of the nation's major sources of professionally trained musicians. Through its constituent divisions, the degree-granting Conservatory music school, and the community-based Preparatory music and dance school, the Institute trains musicians and dancers of every age and at every level, from small children to seasoned professionals, from dedicated amateurs to winners of international competitions. The Institute boasts a preeminent faculty, a nurturing, collaborative learning environment, and is affiliated with one of the nation's leading universities, the Johns Hopkins University. Each year, the Peabody stages more than 800 musical and dance performances in Baltimore and other U.S. cities, a testament to the students'  hard work and dedication.

Past, Present & Future

In 1857, philanthropist George Peabody founded the institute that bears his name - the first academy of music to be established in America - in Baltimore's Mount Vernon Square with the idea of bringing culture to the citys residents. Under the direction of well-known musicians, composers, conductors, and Peabody alumni, the Institute grew from a local academy to an internationally renowned cultural center throughout the late 19th and the 20th centuries.

Since 1977, the Institute has operated as a division of The Johns Hopkins University, which U.S. News & World Report cites as one of America's top ten universities. Because of this affiliation, Peabody students are exposed to a liberal arts curriculum that is more expansive than those of other leading conservatories; likewise, Hopkins students have access to a world-class musical education and experience that they could not access at another university of such stature.

Today, the Peabody continues to build its international reputation. The National University of Singapore is collaborating with the Peabody to establish the Singapore Conservatory of Music - the first such collaboration between a leading American conservatory of music and a leading university in the Asia Pacific region.