Curtis Institute of Music

Turn your volume up!

The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia is arguably the best conservatory in the world, offering a tuition-free undergraduate and graduate programs in instrumental and vocal performance, as well as composition. Known for its rigorous training and selectivity, the institute admits a small number of exceptionally talented students each year and has produced many accomplished musicians and composers who have gone on to have successful careers in classical music, opera, and other genres. Distinguished alumni include Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, Lang Lang, Nino Rota and Ned Rorem, among others.

Pentagram has designed a new visual identity for Curtis, launched to coincide with its 100th anniversary in 2024. Sound and dynamic motion are integral to the identity. The typography of the logo extends to a custom-drawn typeface, also called Curtis. The system also includes a special centennial logo that kinetically expands like the amplification of sound.