Aaron Copland School of Music Records

The Aaron Copland School of Music (ACSM)is one of the oldest and most notable departments on the Queens College, City University of New York (CUNY) campus in Flushing, Queens. The ACSM developed out of the Department of Music, which was established in 1938 by the college’s first president, Paul Klapper. In 1980, the college approved the name change from “Department of Music” to “School of Music” in recognition of the department’s growing enrollment, distinguished faculty, and increased notoriety. The following year the official name of the School became the “Aaron Copland School of Music,” in honor of American composer and native New Yorker, Aaron Copland (1900-1990).

The department was originally located in Rathaus Hall. In 1991, the department moved into its own building, designed by Robert Marquis. The building features the Ethel LeFrak Concert Hall, the Music Library, and the Elmer and Ethel Thiele Atrium.

The department offers undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs in a wide-range of musical disciplines and tracks including general music, music education, performance, and jazz studies. Outreach to local elementary and secondary students began in earnest when the School of Music was established. The goals of these programs vary from organizing classical music concerts, lectures, and lessons at schools to reaching out to prospective high school students. In 1981, the ACSM established the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music (CPSM) in an offsite facility in Caumsett, New York. When the new music building was built on campus in 1991, the CPSM moved to the Queens College campus. The CPSM bears the name of Director Emeritus Lawrence Eisman.

Throughout its history, the ACSM has offered many opportunities for students, community members and faculty to showcase their musical talent. Student ensembles include the Queens College Symphony Orchestra, Queens College Wind Ensemble, Queens College Choir and Women’s Choir, the Queens College Opera Studio as well as various other smaller instrumental and vocal ensembles. Founded in 1941, the Queens College Choral Society is a vocal ensemble of community members, which includes students and faculty. ACSM faculty lead and are involved in student and community ensembles.

Notable faculty include Sol Berkowitz, Thea Musgrave, Leo Kraft, Roland Hanna, Ronald Roseman, Saul Novak, Paul Maynard, Rufus Hallmark, Hubert Howe, Raymon Erickson, David Walker, Joseph Straus, Karol Rathaus and Carl Schacter