Peabody Institute reopens after major renovations

American Music Teacher, April-May, 2004

In April The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, the nation's oldest music conservatory, will reopen its doors after a $26.8 million renovation of its campus in Baltimore's Mount Vernon Cultural District.

The Peabody Institute was founded in 1857 by philanthropist George Peabody with the idea of bringing culture to the residents of Baltimore. Its faculty includes pianist Leon Fleisher, violinist Pamela Frank, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, jazz saxophonist Gary Thomas and vocalists Phyllis Bryn-Julson and John Shirley-Quirk.

This renovation is meant to transform centuries-old buildings into a functional twenty-first century conservatory. The campus will feature more performance and rehearsal spaces, a restored grand entrance, a glass-covered arcade with cascading staircases and ornate ironwork and a side mews gallery entrance to be used as a public exhibition space.

For more information visit www.peabody.jhu.edu.