How a former insane asylum became the world's most prestigious performing arts conservatory.

Cultures · Published 30 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Founded in 1905 to keep American musicians from fleeing to Europe, Juilliard evolved from a modest music institute into a global powerhouse. Today, this Lincoln Center icon demands elite talent, maintaining acceptance rates often below 8 percent while shaping the future of dance, drama, and classical music performance.

The Juilliard School began as the Institute of Musical Art, established in 1905 by Frank Damrosch with funding from James Loeb. Damrosch, the godson of Franz Liszt, aimed to create a premier American institution that could rival European conservatories. By 1910, the school had outgrown its initial Fifth Avenue location and relocated to Morningside Heights, occupying property formerly held by the Bloomingdale Insane Asylum. The institution’s trajectory shifted dramatically in 1919 when textile merchant Augustus D. Juilliard died, leaving a massive bequest that led to the creation of the Juilliard Musical Foundation and the subsequent Juilliard Graduate School in 1924.

The modern identity of the school was forged under president William Schuman, who led from 1945 to 1961. Schuman consolidated the Institute and the Graduate School into a single entity in 1946, implemented a practical curriculum known as Literature and Materials of Music, and established the school’s renowned Dance Division in 1951. In 1968, the institution officially became The Juilliard School, reflecting its expansion into drama under director John Houseman. This period of growth culminated in the 1969 move to the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, a transition that cemented the school's status as a global leader in the arts.

Juilliard’s reputation for exclusivity is well-documented; in 2011, the school accepted only 5.5 percent of applicants. Beyond its core degree programs, the school maintains a Pre-College Division and has expanded internationally, opening a campus in Tianjin in 2020. Its alumni have collectively secured over 200 major awards, including 105 Grammys and 62 Tonys. Despite its prestige, the school remains a site of active evolution, balancing traditional conservatory training with modern digital technology through its Center for Innovation in the Arts and ongoing efforts to address accessibility through programs like the Music Advancement Program.

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