History of the Music Division
Boston Conservatory has been innovating performing arts education since its founding in 1867 by German-born violinist Julius Eichberg. Primarily a school for advanced string training, the Conservatory pursued ideas that at the time were considered radical, like training women and African Americans. This inclusive, forward-thinking spirit would make the Music Division fertile ground for several pathbreaking “firsts”—from launching the first known all-female professional string quartet in the world to being the first conservatory to offer private music lessons to community members on the autism spectrum.