Title
Recognizing the 95th Anniversary of the Curtis Institute of Music, its part in training the world's finest musicians, and for its contributions to the rich cultural fabric of the City of Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, For the last 95 years, the Curtis Institute of Music has been an institution in musical education based in Philadelphia. Curtis was founded in 1924 by Mary Louise Curtis Bok. Mrs. Bok was the only child of Philadelphia-based Louisa Knapp and Cyrus H. K. Curtis. Her father's company, Curtis Publishing Company, produced two of the most popular magazines in America: the Saturday Evening Post and the Ladies' Home Journal; and
WHEREAS, Curtis's rare tuition-free policy was established in 1928 and to this day provides merit-based, full-tuition scholarships for all Curtis students. Students continue to be accepted for study at Curtis solely on the basis of their artistic talent and promise; and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Bok assembled a faculty that would attract the most promising students, and developed a philosophy ensuring that these exceptionally gifted young musicians would receive training to prepare them for careers as performing artists on the highest professional level. Curtis continues this history of excellence today; and
WHEREAS, Curtis alumni have gone on to make history as soloists, composers, conductors, orchestral players, and chamber musicians. Curtis graduates have received Pulitzer Prizes, Guggenheim Fellowships, and Avery Fisher Awards and are in the front rank of soloists and conductors; and
WHEREAS, Curtis graduates are members of the world's leading orchestras, including principals in every major American orchestra. They have sung with La Scala, Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, and the San Francisco Opera, among others, and more than sixty have sung at the Metropolitan Opera; and
WHEREAS, Curtis provides a unique musical education for its students. The student body remains around 175 musicians and the school maintains an elite 4% accept...
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