Koussevitzky as Educator: Establishing the Tanglewood Music Center

BSO Music Director Serge Koussevitzky had long dreamed of establishing a music school. The donation of the Tanglewood estate to the BSO in 1937 paved the way for the creation of an “academy for living and working in music," meant to supplement a conservatory education with the experience of working musicians.

Serge Koussevitzky at his summer home, Seranak, near the Tanglewood grounds.

Photograph by Egone

Brochure advertising the first term of the Berkshire Music Center in 1940 — **Brochure advertising the inaugural term of the Tanglewood Music Center (then** **called the Berkshire Music Center)** The brochure promised “An opportunity for a summer of living and working in music.” Students were coached by faculty such as Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, Herbert Graf, Olin Downes, and various BSO members, in addition to sitting in on BSO rehearsals and performances during the concurrent Berkshire Music Festival.

The First Class: 1940

An elongated image depicts the entire class and faculty of the first Tanglewood Music Center — **Tanglewood Music Center 1940 Class Photo**

The 1940 class picture shows Tanglewood Music Center faculty, students, and staff assembled in front of the “Main House” that served for 54 years as the headquarters for TMC activities. The faculty chosen by Koussevitzky included Aaron Copland, Paul Hindemith, G. Wallace Woodworth, Olin Downes, Richard Burgin, as well as BSO members. Koussevitzky taught the most gifted conducting students, including Leonard Bernstein, Thor Johnson, Richard Bales, and Lukas Foss.

*Photograph by E. J. Curtis.*

Four faces in a group of students and faculty are circled: Aaron Copland, Serge Koussevitzky, Paul Hindemith, and Leonard Bernstein — Close up of 1940 class photo with a few known faces circled and identified.

*Photograph by E. J. Curtis*

Several students holding instrument cases and wearing vintage attire walk across the Tanglewood lawn with the Music Shed in the background. — A group of Tanglewood Music Center students walk across the Tanglewood lawn, 1940. *Photographer unknown*.

First page of manuscript score for Randall Thompson's work Alleluia — *Alleluia* by Randall Thompson, a work for unaccompanied chorus, was commissioned by the BSO for the Tanglewood Music Center’s 1940 opening exercises. The piece made such an impression that it has remained a part of the opening exercises ever since. Each year’s class of students join voices together to usher in a new season of musical study and activity. *Gift of Randall Thompson, 1941.*

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When a Dream Comes True

In his speech to the first class of student musicians, Koussevitzky describes how his dream became reality. Because English was not his first language, Koussevitzky carefully marked in stress and punctuation indications on his copy of the speech.