A cornerstone of the Mannes curriculum is the unique performance and making experiences that happen in addition to the traditional conservatory training. At Mannes, students collaborate with peers and faculty from a variety of disciplines and experience firsthand what it's like to be a working musician in one of the most vibrant music scenes in the world.
Mannes American Composers Ensemble (MACE)
MACE brings together small to medium-sized ensembles to present works and commissions by iconic American composers like Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Kamala Sankaram, and Sufjan Stevens (a New School alumnus), as well as works by up-and-coming composers. The ensemble has been directed by composer, conductor, and violinist David Fulmer since 2016 and presents a diverse array of established 20th- and 21st-century masterpieces alongside newly commissioned works and premieres. New York Classical Review has praised Fulmer as “one of the most important conductors and musicians working with contemporary music.”
Mannes Orchestra
The Mannes Orchestra is led by Professor David Hayes, who guides students in performing a bold repertoire at the highest level. The orchestra presents an annual public concert at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and multiple concerts throughout the year at New School venues, including John L. Tishman Auditorium. Described as “a revelation” by the New York Times, The Mannes Orchestra also collaborates with The Mannes Opera and participates in (Un)Silent Film Nights. Off campus, the orchestra partners with arts groups like the Martha Graham Dance Company and the New York Choral Society.
Mannes Opera
Led by industry leaders in opera and theater, The Mannes Opera aims to reinvigorate the form with new voices and methods and advance opera’s rich tradition of interpreting the moment. Students work directly with leading professionals and are challenged to apply the rigor and commitment required to stage full-scale works—often incorporating new technology—at venues across NYC.
Recent productions include Grace McLean’s In the Green, Cavalli’s La Calisto, Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, Die Zauberflöte, Rachel J. Peter’s Mermaid in the Jar, and Kate Soper’s Here Be Sirens. In accordance with our commitment to developing and supporting new opera, we have workshopped Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s The Listeners, Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith’s The Righteous (in collaboration with Santa Fe Opera), and David T. Little’s Agamemnon (in collaboration with Theatre for a New Audience).
The Mannes Sounds Festival
The Mannes Sounds Festival provides students with opportunities to take master classes with celebrated guest artists and perform in more than 30 concerts each year in a range of genres at prestigious NYC venues, including consulates, museums, and cultural organizations like Carnegie Hall. Led by Professor Pavlina Dokovska, the festival brings together students from across the College of Performing Arts, offering new opportunities to work and perform with peers in a range of performances, from operas to concerts that celebrate and explore the music of the African Diaspora.
Community-Based and Partnered Programs
Mannes students gain invaluable skills and insights while promoting the value of music by performing in diverse community-based settings like libraries, NYC K-12 public and private schools, museums, and community centers. This experiential learning offers creative challenges, repertoire, and forms of audience engagement that expand and deepen students’ artistry.