Philly’s Curtis Institute of Music turns 100

The Curtis has a historic reputation for training students for careers in the world of classical music, i.e. orchestras. But, as the classical music world evolves, a chair in one of the Big Five orchestras may no longer be the ultimate goal for students.

“We really believe that our responsibility is not to dictate what a career looks like, but train these young incredibly talented musicians to have as varied and diverse career paths as they can imagine,” said Díaz.

For example, he points to “Time for Three,” a contemporary trio that will be performing later this month at the Kimmel Center as part of the Curtis’ centenary season. “Time for Three” is a Grammy-winning trio, a self-described “classical garage band” known for making bluegrass, hip hop and pop arrangements for an otherwise classical string ensemble.

Two members of “Time for Three” are Curtis graduates: bassist Ranaan Meyer and violinist Nick Kendall, who attended alongside his sister, Yumi Kendall. The two took divergent paths: While Nick is bending musical genres in his trio, Yumi is assistant principal cellist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and is on the faculty of Curtis.

Yumi also started a podcast in 2023 with fellow Curtis graduate and Orchestra member Joseph Conyers, “Tacet No More,” talking about concerns within the classical music industry, particularly issues around diversity and equity.

The podcast fits with a relatively new aspect of Curtis’ curriculum: social entrepreneurship, or training students to get involved in the civic life of the communities they work in.

“That’s really developing the awareness of the role of the artist in their community,” Díaz said. “Do we have a responsibility to the community that we inhabit? If the answer is yes, which it is, then how does that manifest itself?”

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