About the MPP

Mission

Directed by Prof. Deborah Bradley-Kramer, the Music Performance Program of Columbia University seeks to enable students to develop as musicians within the academic setting of Columbia, by providing and facilitating opportunities for musical instruction, participation, and performance.

History

The Department of Music at Columbia is one of the oldest and most distinguished at any American university. It was founded in 1896 by Edward MacDowell (1860-1908). Although MacDowell remained at Columbia for only eight years, his remarkable vision for the place of music in a liberal arts...

MPP Offerings

Along with the CU Orchestra, there are dozens of chamber music ensembles, numerous jazz ensembles, Collegium Musicum, and world music ensembles including a klezmer band, bluegrass band, and Japanese Gagaku ensemble. The MPP sponsors student-run music organizations as well, such as the Bach...

MPP Collaborations with Composers

The MPP is committed to collaborating with graduate and undergraduate student composers to get their works played in venues on and off campus. Past performances co-sponsored by the MPP heard student works played by the highly-rated New York-based ensemble, counter)induction. The 2009...

Demonstrations for Music Humanities

The core curriculum class "Masterpieces of Western Music" (Music Humanities) figures prominently in the activities of the Music Performance Program. Our students are often asked to play in Music Humanities, and these performances are greatly appreciated by all students in the class.