Conservatory of Music of Kansas City

Horner Institute of Fine Arts was a school of art, music, and drama in Kansas City, Missouri. It was opened in 1914 by conductor Earl Rosenburg. In 1926, it merged with the Kansas City Conservatory of Music, forming the Horner Institute–Kansas City Conservatory of Music. It became the Conservatory of Music of Kansas City in 1934. In 1959, it merged with the University of Kansas City, now the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

Conservatory of Music of Kansas City
Location
4420 Warwick Boulevard Kansas City , Missouri United States
Information
Other names	Horner Institute–Kansas City Conservatory of Music Kansas City–Horner Conservatory of Music Conservatory of Music of Kansas City
Former names	Kansas City Conservatory of Music Horner Institute of Fine Arts
School type	Music and drama Private
Established	September 7, 1914
Founder	Charles F. Horner
Closed	September 1, 1959

History

Kansas City Conservatory of Music

John Cowan established the Kansas City Conservatory of Music in 1906.^[1] In 1916, Cowan gave the conservatory to the city of Kansas City, Missouri. Thus, it became the first publicly owned music conservatory in the United States.^[1]

Horner Institute of Fine Arts

Horner Institute of Fine Arts was opened by Charles F. Horner on September 7, 1914.^[2][3] Horner was a co-founder of the Redpath-Horner Chautauqua and the Lyceum Bureau, the largest promoter of musical programs, lectures, and plays in the United States.^[3][4] Horner was the institute's president.^[5]

Horner Institute's founding director was Earl Rosenberg, a conductor from Lindsborg, Kansas.^[2][5] Founding faculty included pianist Floyd Robbins and violist Forrest Schulz, also from Lindsborg.^[2]

Horner Institute opened a rented building at 36th and Broadway in Kansas City, Missouri.^[2][5] In the fall of 1920, it moved to a new 3,000 square foot facility at 3000 Troost Avenue.^[4] At that time, the institute had 1,000 students.^[4]

Merger

On July 1, 1926, Horner Institute merged with Kansas City Conservatory of Music, forming the Horner Institute–Kansas City Conservatory of Music.^[1][6] In 1928, it changed its name to Kansas City–Horner Conservatory of Music.^[7]

In 1929, the school had 4,000 students and was the third largest music school in the United States.^[1] In 1934, the nonprofit school was reorganized as the Conservatory of Music of Kansas City.^[6]

On September 1, 1959, the conservatory merged with University of Kansas City, a institution formed from Horner Junior College.^[1][3][6] It is now known as the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory.^[1]

Campus

It moved to a new location on 19 East Armour Avenue, finally moving to three-acre site at 4420 Warwick Boulevard in August 1951.^[6] It also had campus in Kansas City, Kansas. After a $250,000 construction project, the campus expanded to include Grant Hall and Russell Stover Memorial Auditorium in September 1955.^[6]

Academics

Horner Institute offered Bachelor of Arts degrees and certificates in all branches of music and expression.^[4] The school provided instruction in music (harmony, piano, voice, violin), art (pencil sketching, watercolor), and drama (dramatic art, history, language, public speaking).^[5]

Student life

The institute had chapters of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity for women, Phi Mu Gamma professional arts sorority, Mu Phi Epsilon professional music fraternity, and Lambda Phi Delta professional fine arts sorority.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Notable alumni

• William L. Dawson, composer
• Walter Greene, composer
• William Harms, classical pianist