Colburn School

Private performing arts school in Los Angeles, California
the Massachusetts historic school

The Colburn School is a private performing arts school in Los Angeles with a focus on music and dance. It consists of four divisions: the Conservatory of Music, Music Academy, Community School of Performing Arts and the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Founded in 1950, the school is named after its principal benefactor, Richard D. Colburn.

The school was established in 1950 as a preparatory arm of the USC Thornton School of Music. It was originally located across the street from the Shrine Auditorium, in a warehouse that had been converted into extra USC practice rooms, rehearsal halls, and dance studios. It later broadened its mission and changed its name to the Community School of Performing Arts. In 1980, it finalized its split with USC and branched out on its own. In 1985, the school received a significant endowment from Richard D. Colburn and was subsequently renamed in his honor. The school moved from its original location near the USC campus to its current location in downtown Los Angeles in 1998. Five years later, the Colburn Conservatory of Music was established to provide tertiary music education with a unique all scholarship model. In 2010, the school opened the Colburn Music Academy, a highly selective program designed for young pre collegiate musicians. In 2014, the Colburn Dance Academy was launched as the pre professional ballet program of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute. Former New York City Ballet principal dancer Jenifer Ringer was appointed as dean and Benjamin Millepied was made artistic advisor. The same year, pianist Jean Yves Thibaudet became the school's first Artist in Residence.

The Conservatory of Music provides tertiary level degree programs to students. Currently, degrees offered are Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Performance Diploma, Artist Diploma and Professional Studies Certificate. All students receive full scholarship including housing and stipends. The Dean of the Conservatory is Lee Cioppa. In 2019, the Conservatory instituted the Negaunee Conducting Program. Led by conductor and composer Esa Pekka Salonen, the program offers either undergraduate or graduate conducting diplomas. In addition to working with various ensembles within the school, fellows join the conducting staff at the San Francisco Symphony and serve as assistant conductors to Salonen for his international engagements. The Music Academy is the Colburn School's pre collegiate division and teaches gifted students between the ages of 14 and 18. The program's curriculum includes music theory, ear training, music history and chamber music. The Community School of Performing Arts serves all ages through to 18 and offers classes for piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, jazz, voice and choir, ensembles, and drama among other disciplines. The Dean of the Community School is Susan Cook. The Dance Academy is the flagship program of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute and is designed to prepare dancers between the ages of 14 and 19 for professional careers. The curriculum has a focus on classical ballet while also providing instruction for other styles. The Dean of the Dance Academy is Margaret Tracey.

Admission to the Colburn Conservatory of Music is highly competitive. In an unidentified year, 26 were accepted from 500 applicants for a 5% acceptance rate. Approximately 120 students attend the Conservatory of Music and more than 1700 are enrolled in classes at the Community School of Performing Arts. Around 50 students study at the Music Academy and 25 in the Dance Academy.

The Colburn School's main building was designed by the architectural firm Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates. It includes the Lloyd Wright designed studio of Jascha Heifetz. Originally situated in Heifetz's backyard, it was saved from demolition and rebuilt on the second floor of the school's Grand Avenue building. Also located in the building is Zipper Hall, a concert venue that hosts both professional and student performances throughout the year. The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra have both performed chamber music concerts at the venue. In 2016, the Colburn School bought an outdoor parking lot on the corner of 2nd and Olive Streets for $33 million. In 2022, plans were announced to build the Colburn Center on the site. Designed by Frank Gehry, the center will include a 1,000 seat concert hall with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota, and a 100 seat theater along with several dance studios. The project is expected to break ground in April 5, 2024 with an estimated completion date in 2027.