Colburn School

The Colburn School Is thrilled and honored to have the CFO of the Year in our midst! Maeesha Merchant, Colburn’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Operating Officer, was named CFO of the Year, Public Sector/Nonprofit by the Los Angeles Business Journal. Maeesha accepted this prestigious award in front of an audience of 400 finance and business leaders from across Los Angeles. Congratulations Maeesha -- we are proud to have you on the Colburn team and grateful for your leadership and vision!

Celebrated for his passionate playing and unique musical interpretations, award-winning French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie boasts an impressive career as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist. He joins us on campus October 8–13 for Chamber Music and Piano Master Classes, before he takes the stage for a program of innovative chamber works by French contemporaries Saint-Saën, Fauré, Roussel, and Hahn. Get more information and tickets for these events today! https://buff.ly/3j681m6

📢 Calling all conductors! Have you heard the incredible news? Our conducting program, led by acclaimed composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, has received an extraordinary gift from the Negaunee Foundation to endow it in perpetuity— as former Salonen Fellow Molly Turner says, “that means it can last forever.” Listen to Molly’s experience as a fellow, which has led her around the globe, to the New World Symphony in Miami, and right back to Grand Avenue here in DTLA, to get an idea of what this program can offer aspiring conductors.

Calling all alumni: The Colburn School is coming to Korea! Save the date for a concert and alumni reception in Seoul on October 30. DM us your email address on instagram, or email [email protected] to receive further details when they are available. Join us for a performance featuring our renowned faculty members Margaret Batjer, violin; Tatjana Masurenko, viola; and Fabio Bidini, piano. Also featuring Conservatory student Benett Tsai, cello, from the Young Concert Artists Roster.

Our 2024-25 season is now live! Click the link to explore our exciting lineup showcasing extraordinary young musicians, classical music stars, and world-renowned conductors. Season highlights include visiting artists such as violinist Jennifer Koh; the dynamic duo of cellist Steven Isserlis and Connie Shih; several Colburn alumni including the Calidore String Quartet, Will Hagen, Albert Cano Smit, and Afendi Yusuf; and the Adrian Dunn Singers. The Colburn Orchestra performs in DTLA, Pasadena, and Northridge under the batons of Esa-Pekka Salonen, Stéphane Denève, Lidiya Yankovskaya, Yehuda Gilad, and more. Colburn’s passionate and dedicated young musicians and dancers will put their training to work all season long in intimate recitals, chamber forums, and showcases featuring all genres. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks for a livestreaming announcement! Check out the season overview, subscription packages, and more: https://bit.ly/3AEp3DY

Discover Colburn’s Season 2024–25 and save up to 30% with a subscription package! Enjoy enthralling performances featuring classical music stars, celebrated conductors, and extraordinary young musicians. Secure your tickets today! https://buff.ly/3X3zY2K

Next Saturday, August 24 from 10:30-11:30 am, come and explore the Early Childhood Creative Arts Program! Our sequential curriculum helps support key developmental milestones in children ages 7 months to 6 years while instilling them with a love of music, dance, singing, and more. Take a sample class, meet faculty and the Early Childhood Department Chair, Dr. Nita Baxani, and attend an orientation at this free family-friendly event! https://buff.ly/3X6zqcb

We are thrilled to announce that Colburn has received a generous gift from The Negaunee Foundation to endow in perpetuity the Conservatory of Music’s Negaunee Conducting Program, led by world-renowned composer and conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen, our Maestro Ernst H. Katz Chair of Conducting Studies. President and CEO Sel Kardan said of the gift, “This extraordinarily generous contribution underscores Colburn School’s commitment to providing unparalleled educational opportunities. The program, led by the esteemed Esa-Pekka Salonen, ensures that aspiring conductors receive exceptional training and mentorship, both academically and through real-world experiences.” In addition, Colburn will become the home to Salonen’s extensive score collection, which includes more than 1,400 annotated orchestra scores from his career, including works by contemporary composers and his original compositions. This score collection will serve as a valuable resource for the Salonen Fellows and other students. 

We are thrilled to announce that Margaret Batjer has been named Director of the Music Academy and will join the Conservatory of Music violin faculty beginning in the 2024-25 school year. Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and a renowned violin soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist, Margaret has been a member of Colburn’s Music Academy faculty since 2015 and leads the Academy Virtuosi. As Director of the Music Academy, she will plan performance activities and oversee the artistic and academic development of students in the Music Academy, preparing them to enter top conservatory programs worldwide and for future careers as chamber musicians, orchestral musicians, and soloists.

Fall registration for the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts is now open! With group classes, ensembles, and private lessons available for students as young as 7 months, Colburn is the perfect place for beginners and experienced musicians alike to explore their passion and develop their craft. Enroll now to reserve your spot in the exciting lineup of classes. We also have new classes to offer this fall! • Guitar Orchestra • Musical Play • Diction for Singers • Singing More (Now up to age 7) • Creative Dramatics (Now at 8:30 and 10 am on Saturdays) ...and more! https://buff.ly/3yaqida