This is a special year for our community as we are celebrating 150 years of both the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Conservatory of Music and the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Community Music School.

Our journey began in 1874 when President George McKendree Steele proposed the establishment of a Conservatory of Music to the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Board of Trustees. That same year, the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Community Music School was founded, marking the formal start of our music program with a mission to provide music instruction to the wider community.

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Conservatory 150th logo

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Conservatory & Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Community Music School 150th Timeline

Explore Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Archives'  for a deeper dive. 

View from behind the Orchestra in the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center for Kaleidoscope 2013

Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope's non-stop, 50-minute format provides a rapid-fire musical spectrum showcasing the sheer variety and mastery of students attending the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Conservatory of Music. Kaleidoscope is hosted every three years, with the most recent performance being October 12, 2024. 

Find out more about Kaleidoscope
Flute ensemble performs at the recent Kaleidoscope concert.

150th Crescendo: Convergence

We celebrated the Conservatory of Music's 150th year with a special concert featuring 9 world premieres, including performances by the LU Flute and Trombone Ensembles.

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Wind Ensemble performing on the Memorial Chapel stage

Celebrating the 150th 

To celebrate the 150th, the Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Wind Ensemble's Celebrating the 150th performance featured several works inspired by Conservatory history.

Conservatory students took the Conservatory 150th celebration to New York City at the Manhattan School of Music. As part of the Conservatory student experience, music performance majors are often invited to perform at special events worldwide.

Touring Performance

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ took its celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Conservatory of Music to New York City over spring break.

Read the story

150th Celebration News

View 150th Stories

Upcoming Conservatory Events

  • Apr 23
    09:00 PM - 10:30 PM
    Location: Shattuck 163
  • Apr 25
    07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
    Location: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Memorial Chapel
  • May 3
    07:30 PM - 09:00 PM
    Location: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Memorial Chapel
  • May 14
    08:00 PM - 09:00 PM
    Location: Harper Hall
  • May 21
    08:00 PM - 09:30 PM
    Location: Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ Memorial Chapel

Get the Social Media Kit

Celebrate on Social Media! Let all of your friends know why Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ is such a special place. Share a photo of your time at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ or wearing Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ÊÓƵ gear on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn and use #LUCon150 when you post!