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The Crane School of Music students, faculty and guest artists present over 300 public performances each year. Also, master classes provide the special chance for our student singers, instrumentalists and conductors to learn from prominent visiting artists and alumni.

The Crane School of Music was founded in 1886 by Julia Etta Crane (1855-1923) as the Crane Institute of Music, and was one of the first institutions in the country to have programs dedicated to preparing specialists in teaching music in the public schools.

Crane School of Music Alumni Board 2024-2025 Officers:

The National String Project at CraneNow in its 24th year, the National String Project’s mission is to expand string education opportunities in the North Country while providing teaching experiences for university

SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music is a community of educators, musicians and scholars in an environment dedicated to helping every student ach

Crane and SUNY Potsdam Music Student OrganizationsCrane Student Association (CSA)NAfME: The Crane chapter of the National Association for Music EducationACDA: The Crane chapter of the American Choral Directors AssociationASTA: The Crane chapter of the American String Teachers AssociationMENC: The Crane chapter of the Music Teachers National AssociateCMS: The Crane student chapter of the College Music SocietyMEISA: The SUNY Potsdam/Crane Institute of Music Busine

Crane Symphony OrchestraThe Crane Symphony Orchestra is the second oldest college orchestra in the United States, and in its long legacy, students at Crane have worked with legendary conductors and musicians, such as Nadia Boulanger, Sarah Caldwell, Aaron Copland, Howard Hanson, Gunther Schuller, and Robert Shaw, to name a few.

Crane Wind EnsembleConductor: Dr. Brian K. Doyle

The Crane School of Music played a key role in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games, providing all of the live music at the events in Lake Placid, N.Y.—and pushing the musicians to the limit in performing in cold conditions.