April 15, 2022

We asked current students to reflect on their college application experience, and share why they ultimately decided to attend Manhattan School of Music.

Read their thoughts on MSM’s world-class faculty, extraordinary performance opportunities, and vibrant student community below.

Joseph Miller (Jazz Saxophone)

The reason I chose to attend the Manhattan School of Music was because of the strong family atmosphere that exists here. I loved how everyone knew each other and how my classmates could also live on my floor which could help me create a group of friends more easily. When I walked through the front doors of MSM, the environment was so welcoming and it was this warmness the school possessed that helped me make the final decision to attend and be apart of this great institution of music.

Liana Hoffman (Classical Horn)

When making college decisions, many details become overwhelmingly important, so when it came time for me to decide I started by prioritizing.  Faculty, location, and atmosphere became my three pillars of criteria in choosing the right school for me and as cliché as it may sound, I feel that those things fell right into place for me with MSM.  When it came to location, I wanted to be somewhere where arts and culture were celebrated and where opportunities were flowing–what better place then New York City?!

The ease of accessibility to artistic outlets of every facet are unique to the magic of NYC and go unmatched everywhere else. As an artistic center of the country and the world, NYC is home to some of the best professionals in every field, especially the arts.  The best of the best are here, and the ones that aren’t, pass through often which became hugely significant in considering faculty for me.  Some of the greatest in the industry are on faculty at MSM, and so many others come to give masterclasses, so when I found a teacher that not only had amazing success but whose teaching and personality connected with me, I was beyond thrilled.  That was all to be topped off by my trip to MSM for a tour where I instantly gained an understanding of the community and atmosphere surrounding the school–I felt at home.  There was a warmth coming from the heart of the school that felt full of support, encouragement, and growth, and with that I was sold.  I knew then that MSM was going to be my home for the next four years and home is exactly what it has been.

Michalis Tsiftsis (Jazz Guitar)

It’s my first year as a masters student here as a jazz musician and I feel that it’s amazing to be in New York because for a jazz musician, New York is the place to be.

At Manhattan School of Music I have the chance to be around students of high caliber that are really focused on the music and are very happy to make music every day.

Raffaela Cicchetti (Musical Theatre)

Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to study music and be a performer. When I started researching where I wanted to go to college, MSM was my first choice. The school was starting a new program for Musical Theatre at the time and the thought of even being apart of that was so exciting! Once I arrived at MSM for my audition, I knew it was the place for me!

Everyone was extremely friendly, welcoming and loved music just as much as I did. The environment was everything I could ask for. It’s the place I felt most at home while only being there for a few hours. When I learned that I was accepted into MSM’s Musical Theatre program, I was overjoyed and knew that it was where I wanted to spend the next 4 years of my life. In addition to the beyond accomplished MT faculty, the fact that MSM is located in NYC was a big deal for me. NYC was the place where I truly wanted to study what I loved most. There are also so many opportunities to learn outside of the classroom by going to see performances all over the city! MSM has become more of a home to me than I could have ever imagined and I’m so lucky that I get to study and live here every day!

Ruolin Zhang (Classical Voice)

There are so many of us from all around the world that come together at Manhattan School of Music to form one big family! 

 There are lots of opportunities at MSM, especially when it comes to performance. At MSM, I’m able to explore new things, learn the skills I need to succeed, and better myself as an artist.