On This Day: St.Petersburg Conservatorium was founded

On this day, September 20th 1862, Saint Petersburg State Conservatory was founded, becoming the first higher education music institution in Russia. This happened thanks to the efforts of pianist and composer Anton Rubinstein.

Saint Petersburg State Conservatory in 1913

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov worked there as a professor from 1871, and now the Conservatory is named after him.

Rimsky-Korsakov monument (author angelius1979) in front of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was among the first students of the newly opened Conservatory. Other famous alumni include composers Sergei Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich.

Currently the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory provides education for over 1300 students annually.