The Curtis Institute of Music was founded in 1924 to train exceptionally gifted young musicians for performing careers on the highest professional level. Currently, 166 students from the United States and 21 countries throughout the world study with the school's 87-member faculty. The Curtis Institute has produced, proportionately, the largest body of notable performing musicians of any conservatory. Alumni include Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Jorge Bolet, Lukas Foss, Richard Goode, Gary Graffman, Lynn Harrell, Eugene Istomin, Jaime Laredo, Gian Carlo Menotti, Anna Moffo, George Rochberg, Ned Rorem, Peter Serkin and Benita Valente.
Music in the Galleries is sponsored by The John J. Medveckis Foundation.