Founded in 1994 by Toby Perlman, The Perlman Music Program has established itself as the premier training organization for the next generation of classical music leaders. As a nineteen year-old violin student at Juilliard, Toby Perlman began to dream of a musical institution dedicated to training the next generation of classical music leaders. She dreamed of a program devoted to a supportive and nurturing learning environment, one capable of adapting to the needs of each individual student, and one that counteracts the immense pressures often placed on students of extraordinary talent. Toby’s dream became a reality when what was to become The Perlman Music Program held its first two-week summer session at a rented camp site at Boys’ Harbor in East Hampton, New York. This ramshackle campus lacked many of the qualities needed to run a first class summer music school, including adequate practice and performance space. It quickly became clear that a more conducive campus was needed to fulfill the Program’s ambitious goals. Thanks to a few very generous benefactors, The Perlman Music Program took a major step forward in 2000 and purchased an idyllic 28-acre campus on the shore of Shelter Island, New York. This former resort provided large buildings for dorms and a dining hall, bungalows for faculty housing, tiny cabins perfect for practice rooms, and space to erect a large performance stage and tent. Since its first two-week session eighteen years ago, the Program has grown into a sophisticated series of programs that include the now seven-week Summer Music School, the two and a half-week Chamber Music Workshop, the two and a half-week Sarasota Winter Residency, the Alumni Concerts Festival, and the yearlong Alumni Concerts and Mentorship Program. Over the years, these programs have been enhanced by the occasional international tour to countries such as Israel and China. Today, The Perlman Music Program has established itself as a leader in its field. At the heart of the Program’s guiding philosophy is a belief in personalized and intimate learning experiences for its students. Boasting a remarkable student to faculty ratio of better than 2:1, the faculty, led by Itzhak Perlman, includes some
of the most highly respected and sought-after pedagogues in the world. This helps create an environment that provides the valuable resources necessary to nurture remarkable talent, while at the same time promoting both leadership and real life social skills. Throughout its existence, The Perlman Music Program has found that these attributes achieve tangible results for its students. PMP takes great pride in noting that virtually all of its young graduates continue their studies at leading conservatories and distinguished colleges. Most alumni cite PMP as one of the most formative elements in their musical and personal development.
