Centennial Events
The Centennial Shop
As we step into our centennial year, Brookline Music School invites you to join us in celebrating a remarkable milestone – 100 years of nurturing musical talent and fostering a vibrant, inclusive musical community.
Join us for four unique Centennial Events in the Brookline community – the season of the century!
Centennial Anniversary Events
Sunday, November 24, 2024, 3:00pm – Joint Faculty Recital
Sunday, January 12, 2025, 7:00pm – Alumni Concert
Saturday, March 22, 2025, 2:00pm, 2:45pm, 3:30pm – Children’s Concert
Sunday, April 27, 2025 3:00pm – Centennial Gala
*check event calendar for locations
From the Executive Desk: Looking Back at the History of BMS (1961)
The Brookline Music School (BMS) traces its roots back to 1924, when it was first established by the Director of Music in the Brookline Public Schools, Mr. Augustus D. Zanzig, with the approval and encouragement of the School Committee. The school’s mission, as stated in a 1924 School Committee report, was “to provide the spiritual enrichment and happiness to be found in playing the best music, especially in orchestras, bands, and string quartets.”
To accomplish this, the school offered affordable instrumental instruction to young people in Brookline, with partial scholarships available for those who could not afford the cost. Over the years, the school’s dedicated faculty have taught at BMS out of a desire “to contribute to the ‘spiritual enrichment and happiness’ of the community.”
From its humble beginnings with just 103 members meeting in the Edward Devotion School building, BMS has grown tremendously. Today, the school has over 70 faculty members serving more than 800 students – but its core purpose remains the same: to awaken and nurture the joy of learning, playing, and listening to music, and to create a welcoming musical community for all ages, abilities, and interests.
As the Brookline Music School celebrates its Centennial Anniversary, this historical account reminds us of the school’s longstanding commitment to fostering musical expression and enriching the lives of generations within the Brookline community – and opens our History of BMS Giving Tuesday celebration!
Founder Augustus Zanzig Appointed Music Director (1920's)
This pivotal moment in the 1920’s not only shaped the future of music education in Brookline but also laid the foundation for what would become Brookline Music School. Zanzig’s vision of integrating music into public education and the broader community was revolutionary for its time.
His appointment highlights a crucial aspect of our mission that continues to this day: the belief that music education should be accessible to all and deeply connected to our community. Zanzig understood that music has the power to enrich lives, foster creativity, and build bridges between people of all backgrounds.
Programming Past & Present (1968)
We invite you on a journey into 1968. Imagine a time when registration fees were a modest $5, full term tuition ranged from $15 to $25, faculty consisted of 25 dedicated members, and our school existed only in the shared halls of 9 different Brookline Public Schools
While these numbers may seem quaint by today’s standards, they represent the same commitment to accessible, high-quality music education that we uphold today. From those 25 faculty members in 1968, we’ve grown to a team of over 70 professional musicians and educators. We’ve localized from those 9 public school locations to our own dedicated spaces, providing the creatively invigorating environment our students deserve.
A BMS Family Fridge from 1970
For nearly a century, the Brookline Music School has been more than just a place to learn an instrument – it has been a launchpad for lifelong passion, a nurturer of talent, and a foundation of our tight-knit community.
Take the story of Julie Saltzman for example. Julie first walked through the doors of BMS as a student in the 1970s, honing her musical skills and discovering a love for the piano. Today, Julie serves on the BMS board of directors, working to ensure the school continues inspiring the next generation of musicians and music appreciators.
Julie’s journey embodies the lasting impact of BMS. From the library recitals of 1971 to the performances of 2024, the school has shaped countless musical stories like hers. As BMS celebrates its Centennial Anniversary, Julie’s story stands as a testament to the school’s enduring legacy and role as a cornerstone for artistic expression and community involvement.
BMS Moves Into the Kennard House
For our last archive feature, we wanted to acknowledge the 30th anniversary of our move into our home base – the historic Kennard House in Brookline’s Town Green Historic District. This September 1994 grand opening would cap off a year-long renovation project, transforming the 150-year-old building into a dedicated facility for the school’s educational and performance activities.
For the first time in its 70-year history, BMS would have a space it could truly call its own. The Kennard House, located on the campus of the then-newly-opened Lincoln School, would begin to provide the necessary facilities for student recitals, daily teaching, ensemble rehearsals, and administrative offices. This new home would and still continues to complement, rather than replace, the school’s continued presence within Brookline’s public schools, ensuring the community remains central to BMS’s mission.
