Manhattan School of Music

Congratulations to MSM alumnus, composer-songwriter Matt Siffert (MM ’15) who opened for Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado last month. We invite you to read this post published by Manhattan School of Music Alumni about his other important work as Director of External Affairs at Musical Mentors Collaborative!

Composer-songwriter Matt Siffert (MM ’15) opened for Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash at Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, Colorado in July, 2026, performing songs from his latest EP, "Magic of the New." Matt studied classical composition with Richard Danielpour at MSM.

Matt is also the Director of External Affairs at Musical Mentors Collaborative (MMC), an organization he joined in 2020 which received a $2 million charitable donation from Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in July of 2026. The foundation serves under-resourced students across the United States. The collaborative includes musicians, educators, and university students; homeless shelters, supportive housing networks, and low-income Title I schools. MMC volunteers and teachers come from professions ranging from law and finance, to social work and arts-management.

To learn more about Matt: https://www.instagram.com/mattsiffert/
To learn more about MMC: https://musical-mentors.org/

A special event this week through Saturday night at NYC’s the Amph at Little Island: don’t miss MSM alumnus and trustee, Grammy-winning countertenor, and impresario Anthony Roth Costanzo (MM ’08, HonDMA ’22) and his show Minimalist, also featuring MSM alumni Bryan Wagorn (DMA ’14), Vicky Chow (MM ’09, PS ’10), and Jannina Norpoth (BM ’03). The show maximizes minimalist music alongside renowned mezzo-soprano Rachael Wilson, Sandbox Percussion, the esteemed PUBLIQuartet, and an all-star cast of musicians. (Thank you to MSM Vice President of Philanthropy Susan Madden for the photos.)
Learn more here: https://littleisland.org/event/anthony-roth-costanzo-minimalism/2026-08-05/

On This Date in 2015: MSM Summer presents jazz and orchestral ensemble concerts featuring the young musicians aged 8 to 17 participating in the program, playing side by side with their instructors.

On This Date Last Year: Young musicians aged 8 to 17 participating in the MSM Summer program [2025] give a variety of performances.

Longtime MSM Precollege violin faculty member Elizabeth Faidley is featured in Violinist.com👏🎶
On August 2, she is hosting a “Pedagogy Day,” a full day devoted to the art of teaching the violin. Learn more here, and read her interview with Violinist.com where she talks about why teaching is important to her, calling it her “life’s work”: https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20267/30803/

Congratulations to MSM vocal arts alumnus Gerardo de la Torre (MM ’21) 👏🎶 (in photo on left, posing with MSM President Jim Gandre when he was a student at MSM): Gerardo performed the lead role in Verdi’s Falstaff in Monterrey, Mexico, earlier this month—his debut performing a title role in his hometown 😀 The production was presented at the Teatro De La Cuidad by the MOS Mexico Opera Studio. Dr. de la Torre was a visiting voice professor at MOS during the 2025-2026 season.

On This Date in 1946 and 1962: David Noon is born [1946] (in Johnstown, PA), would join the MSM composition faculty, and teach for 30 years (1981–2011); and participants in MSM’s Summer Opera Workshop [1962] prepare for upcoming performances.

Congratulations to former MSM President, composer Robert Sirota! His latest CD, 212: Symphony No. 1, is out on Azica Records and features MSM musicians. "I am so thankful to the incredible conductor George Manahan and Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra for bringing this work to life,” Sirota says. “The album was recorded in Manhattan School of Music's Neidorff–Karpati Hall in 2024 and was premiered by Manhattan School of Music Symphony in 2007.”

My latest CD 212: Symphony No. 1 is out on Azica Records! I am so thankful to the incredible conductor George Manahan and Manhattan School of Music Symphony Orchestra for bringing this work to life. The album was recorded in Manhattan School of Music's Neidorff – Karpati Hall in 2024 and premiered by Manhattan School of Music Symphony in 2007. Thank you to the Azica Records team for their tireless work mastering and releasing this recording. I can't wait for you all to hear it. Order the CD today at https://lnkfi.re/StreamSirotaSymphonyNo1

On This Date in 2008: An event at Gracie Mansion hosted by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, celebrates Harlem’s 350th anniversary year and MSM’s 90th. President Robert Sirota is gifted a commemorative urn and presents Bloomberg with a framed timeline of the School’s history. Honored guests include Arthur Mitchell and Billy Taylor.

Congratulations to MSM alumni mezzo-soprano Hannah Jones (MM '24) and countertenor Haolun Zhang (MM '24)! They've been selected as finalists in the 2026 Operalia competition —founded in 1993 by Plácido Domingo who presides over the competion's jury — this year hosted by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Shangyin Opera House on October 26 to November 1.