Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music is the music school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. From 1926 to 2003, it was known as University of Miami School of Music.
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Academics and programs
The University of Miami's Frost School of Music was one of the original schools of the University of Miami upon its 1926 founding, operating from 1926 until 2003 as University of Miami School of Music. The School today has an enrollment of just over 700 students.
In April 2007, Shelly Berg, American pianist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, and producer, was appointed as the new dean of the Frost School of Music following the retirement of James William Hipp.
The Frost School is home to Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program, named after Frost School of Music alumnus Bruce Hornsby. The program is an interdisciplinary course of study designed to develop artist and songwriters by immersing them in the diverse traditions that form the foundation of modern American songwriting. In 2019, Frost School of Music's Dean's Suite was named for Japanese rock star Yoshiki following a masterclass to Frost students and a charitable to donation to the school.
Rankings and reputation
In 2018, Billboard magazine ranked the University of Miami's Frost School of Music as the nation's top music business school.
Facilities
The University of Miami's Frost School of Music's facilities include the 600-seat Maurice Gusman Concert Hall named for Ukrainian-American businessman Maurice Gusman. The concert hall hosts performances by students, faculty, and guest artists.
Other school facilities include the 150-seat Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall, The Marta and L. Austin Weeks Music Library and Technology Center (opened in 2005), the Bertha Foster practice building, and the newly constructed Patricia L. Frost North and South Buildings, home to faculty studios.
Naming
On October 16, 2003, the university announced a $33 million gift from philanthropists Phillip Frost and his wife Patricia and the plan to rename the University of Miami School of Music as Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music.
Festival Miami
Festival Miami was a music festival series hosted annually by the Frost School of Music in October from 1984 through 2017. In 2017, the festival was integrated with ongoing live music events hosted by the University of Miami throughout the year. Festival Miami offered a range of musical programming, including Latin, jazz, classical, and creative American music. Past performers have included University of Miami alumni Gloria Estefan, Ben Folds, Bruce Hornsby, and Jon Secada. Other past performers have included Joshua Bell, Jackson Browne, Willy Chirino, Shawn Colvin, Edgar Meyer, and others.
Accreditation
The Frost School of Music has been accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the principal accrediting body for music schools, since 1939.
Notable alumni
Michelle Amato, vocalist
Brian Balmages, composer, conductor, music educator
Jeffri W. Bantz, music conductor
Anastasia Barzee, Broadway actress
Alex Brown, pianist
Hiram Bullock, guitarist
Elizabeth Caballero, operatic soprano
Lewis Cleale, actor
Sylvia Constantinidis, classical pianist, composer, conductor, music educator
Ann Curless, pop music vocalist, Exposé
Kermit Driscoll, jazz bassist
Mark Egan, jazz bassist, Pat Metheny Group
Ben Folds, alternative rock musician, vocalist, and songwriter
Danny Gottlieb, drummer, Pat Metheny Group
Bruce Hornsby, singer-songwriter and pianist
Fred Hufsmith, tenor
Amy Lee, saxophonist, Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band
Will Lee, bassist, Late Show with David Letterman
Dawnn Lewis, actress
Carmen Lundy, jazz vocalist, composer
Notable faculty
Shelly Berg, current dean, Frost School of Music, jazz pianist
Martin Bejerano, jazz piano
John Bitter, former dean, Frost School of Music, 1950–1963
Craig Carothers, songwriter, recording artist
Frank Cooper, musicology
John Daversa, chair, Frost School of Music Studio Music and Jazz
Ivan Davis, pianist
Gary Green, director of bands
Jim Bob Floyd, piano
Bertha Foster, former dean, Frost School of Music
William Franklin Lee III, former dean, Frost School of Music, 1964–1982
Brian Lynch, jazz trumpet
Pat Metheny, jazz
Craig Morris, trumpet
Jaco Pastorius, jazz
Bill Porter, audio engineer
Paul Posnak, piano
Dafnis Prieto, jazz drummer and percussionist
Alfred Reed, music business
Santiago Rodriguez, pianist
Jo-Michael Scheibe, choral