In 1975, Ethel Bernard was approached by families from Wellesley, Weston, and Wayland about creating a new music school in the area after the New England Conservatory Preparatory School decided to close its satellite location in Wellesley. Ethel found space in the unoccupied former headmaster’s house (now Blackwell House) on the campus of a then all-boys college preparatory school, and The Music School at Rivers opened its doors.
In 2008, the school was renamed The Rivers School Conservatory, and it has continued to grow exponentially with the number of students it serves, the roster of world-class teaching faculty, and the breadth of program offerings. However, there has been one constant throughout RSC’s 50 years: the commitment to “Inspiring Musical Excellence” in RSC students of all ages.
The halls of Blackwell House and Bradley Hall (constructed in 2007) have hosted thousands of exceptional student performances, masterclasses led by internationally renowned musicians, and visits by special guest performers. RSC boasts many long-time faculty members, the ground-breaking Seminar on Contemporary Music for the Young (begun in 1979), esteemed piano and strings competitions, and alumni who have gone on to wide acclaim — all contributing to RSC’s rich 50-year history.
The culmination of RSC’s celebratory 50th year will be a special event on Saturday, May 30, 7:00 p.m. at The Rivers School. The festive evening of community, inspiration, and memories will include food and libations, along with a program of musical performances and storytelling. Please keep an eye out for the email invitation to attend the celebration, which will be coming soon!
To view some of the artifacts from RSC’s past, visit Bradley Hall where an RSC archive display is set up in the glass cases in the lobby.
Article written by Emily Lobono.
