Frost School of Music
The Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music (known more simply as the Frost School of Music) is the music school at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, in the United States. From 1926 to 2003, it was known as the University of Miami School of Music.
Frost School of Music | |
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Address | |
1314 Miller Dr , | |
Information | |
School type | Private |
Established | 1926 |
Dean | Shelly Berg |
Enrollment | 716 |
Website | https://www.frost.miami.edu/ |
Academics and programs

The 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 the University of Miami School of Music'. The School today has an enrollment of just over 700 students and offers degree programs in instrumental performance, vocal performance, music engineering, music therapy, music education, music composition, and musical theatre. It also offers Studio Music and jazz degrees for instrumentalists and vocalists. Its Studio Music and Jazz program have consistently ranked among the best in the nation. Frost School of Music also was the first music school in the nation to offer an innovative degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries and a hands-on music therapy program.
The Frost School of Music's bachelor of arts in music program offers a music major with a liberal arts minor and is a popular choice as a double major for pre-medical, pre-veterinary, pre-dental, and pre-law students who wish to also pursue higher studies in music. A minor in music is also offered for non-music majors. Music majors within different fields can choose to minor in studio music and jazz, music composition, music business and entertainment industries, and dance. The School also offers graduate programs in every music discipline.
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.[1]
The Frost School is home to the Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program, named after Frost School of Music alumnus Bruce Hornsby, a 1977 University of Miami School of Music graduate. 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, the 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.[2]
Rankings
In 2018,, Billboard magazine ranked the Frost School of Music as the nation's top music business school.[3]
A 2009 U.S. News & World Report survey ranked the school's jazz program as the second best such program in the nation, and ranked the University of Miami School of Music's masters programs among the top 25 in the country.[4]
Facilities
The school'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. These facilities, as well as the Rehearsal Center and Volpe Classroom Building, are all located at the Frost School on the University of Miami's main campus in Coral Gables.
Naming
On October 16, 2003, at a gala event launching the University of Miami's "Momentum Campaign" established to raise $1 billion, 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 The Frost School of Music.
Notable alumni
- Michelle Amato, vocalist
- Brian Balmages, composer, conductor, music educator
- Jeffri W. Bantz, conductor
- Anastasia Barzee, actress
- Elizabeth Caballero, operatic soprano, 2013 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Lewis Cleale, actor; 2002 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Sylvia Constantinidis, classical pianist, composer, conductor, music educator [5]
- Matt Cornwell, composer and producer
- Ann Curless, vocalist (Exposé)
- Kermit Driscoll, jazz bassist (Bill Frisell, Buddy Rich)
- Mark Egan, jazz bassist (Pat Metheny Group)
- Ben Folds, musician
- Kenneth Fuchs, composer; 2000 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Danny Gottlieb, drummer (Pat Metheny Group)
- Bruce Hornsby, musician; 1989 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Amy Lee, saxophonist (Jimmy Buffett)
- Will Lee, bassist (Late Show with David Letterman)
- Dawnn Lewis, actor; 1994 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Carmen Lundy, jazz vocalist, composer; 2003 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Marvis Martin, operatic soprano; 1987 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Joel McNeely, composer; 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Johanna Meier, operatic soprano; 1984 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Steve Morse, guitarist (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple)
- Erin O'Donnell, vocalist
- Jaelan Phillips, American football player[6]
- Robert Phillips, classical guitarist
- Maria Schneider, composer
- Patti Scialfa, vocalist, guitarist (E Street Band)
- Jon Secada, singer, songwriter; 1999 Distinguished Alumnus Award
- Matt Serletic, producer (Collective Soul, Matchbox Twenty)
- Ed Toth, drummer (Vertical Horizon, Doobie Brothers)
- James Touchi-Peters, conductor, composer and jazz singer
- Bobby Watson, saxophonist
- Lari White, singer-songwriter
Notable faculty
- Shelly Berg, Dean, jazz piano
- 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, Studio Music and Jazz
- Ivan Davis, piano
- Gary Green, Director of Bands
- JB 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, Chairman, piano performance
- Jo-Michael Scheibe, choral
- Gerard Schwarz, Director of Orchestral Activities
- Thomas Sleeper, former Director of Orchestral Activities 1993-2018
- Richard Todd, horn
- Paul Wilson, music theorist
See also
References
- "Jazz news: Shelton G. Berg Named Frost School of Music Dean". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - "Japan's International Superstar Yoshiki to Present $150k Donation to Frost". news.miami.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-17.
- https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8463104/top-music-business-schools-2018-billboard.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - "A Little History". Archived from the original on 2007-02-10. Retrieved 2009-01-31.
- "Frost School of Music - University of Miami". www.miami.edu.
- Perez, Amanda. "For 'Canes defensive lineman, playing field includes football and music". news.miami.edu.