The American Conservatory of Music (ACM) was a major American school of music founded in Chicago in 1886 by John James Hattstaedt (1851–1931).Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians (6th ed., revised), by Nicolas Slonimsky, Collier Macmillan Publishers. The conservatory was incorporated as an Illinois non-profit corporation. It developed the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and had numerous student recitals. The oldest private degree-granting music school in the Midwestern United States, it was located in Chicago until 1991.

That year, 1991, its board of trustees—chaired by Frederic Wilbur HickmanMarquis Who's Who in America, 1992–1993 (47th ed.), Vol. 1, A–K, pg 1547, Reed Reference Publishing Company, New Providence, New Jersey (1992)—voted to close the institution, file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, liquidate the assets, and dissolve the corporation. The conservatory closed at the end of the semester, in May 1991."All Out Of Miracles, Century-Old Music School Will Close In May", by John Richard von Rhein, Chicago Tribune, March 9, 1991"Changing The Score, American Conservatory Gets Another Chance," by John Richard von Rhein, Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1991

An organization based in Hammond, Indiana, uses the name "American Conservatory of Music" and identifies as the reorganized continuation of the Chicago institution. It also has a base in Belize that was founded in 1886 and is currently led by Theodora Schultze.

History John James Hattstaedt, a musician who had taught piano in Detroit, Michigan and St. Louis, Missouri, moved to Chicago, Illinois, in 1875. A center of railroad lines connecting to the East Coast and the resource-rich Great Lakes area, it was booming as a center of business, industry and culture. In 1886 he established the American Conservatory of Music, which became the oldest private, degree-granting school of music in the Midwest.

Hattstaedt was founding president and continued his direction until he became ill, six months before his death in 1931. He had expanded the school, attracting talented faculty and students. A Conservatory Symphony Orchestra was developed. In addition to the regular faculty, the conservatory attracted artists who conducted master classes in their specialties. In 1931 the conservatory had 3,000 students.

In the later 20th century, the conservatory appeared to suffer from its lack of affiliation with a university, which would have provided access to a wider circle of programs and donors. But it still served urban students and in 1977 had 2,000 students. At least in the early 1970s, accredited academic coursework was provided by the University of Chicago Extension which had classroom facilities in downtown Chicago's "Loop" district. Enrollment declined more markedly in the 1980s. Many other music schools were also under pressure and struggling financially. In 1986 ACM entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Under the presidency of Vernon R. Nelson, the school moved to more modern quarters in the Stevens Building, 17 N. State Street, and attracted new faculty. He gained several major gifts from donors and foundations, including a $1 million grant from the Marquette Charitable Trust.

But by spring of 1991, enrollment was down to 90 full-time students, 60 fewer than expected. The conservatory announced it would close in May at the end of the semester. Chicago Musical College offered contracts to many of the conservatory faculty, and offered to have students enroll there to complete their studies and degrees.

Leadership Conservatory presidents 1886–1931: John James Hattstaedt (1851–1931) 1935–1971: John Robert Hattstaedt (1887–1978), son of the founder, took over as president four years after his father's death. In between, his mother Kate Hattstaedt had served as president."Obituaries: John Robert Hattstaedt", Chicago Tribune, p. C13, February 6, 1978 1971–1981: Leo Edward Heim (1913–1992) In 1981, the conservatory named him president emeritus.International Who's Who in Music and Musicians' Directory (10th ed.), Cambridge, England (1984)Who's Who in American Music: Classical, R.R. Bowker, New York (1983) But in 1987–1991, he was instrumental in the attempt to save the conservatory after it had filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7."Leo Heim, 78; Helped Save American Conservatory of Music", Chicago Sun-Times, January 7, 1992Who's Who in America, 1990–1991 (46th ed.), Marquis Who's Who, Wilmette, Illinois (1990) 1980–1987: Charles Ethelbert Moore (1930–1995),"Charles E. Moore, DePaul Music Teacher," Chicago Sun-Times, January 31, 1995 a classical pianist who later taught at DePaul University, was president when the conservatory filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 1987."Ailing Music School Given An Encore – Numbers Man Rides To Rescue", by Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, March 15, 1987 Moore had joined the faculty in 1961 and became dean in 1972. 1987–1989: Vernon R. Nelson (born 1945), a graduate of the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business, temporarily saved the conservatory, extending its life until 1991."How For-Profit Management Saved a Failing Institution", Nonprofit World, Jan–Feb 1988, Vol. 6 Issue 1, pg. 36-37 1989–1990: Steven J. Nelson (no relation to Vernon) 1990–1991: Vernon R. Nelson

General directors 1900–1903: Frederick Grant Gleason 1937 Louise Robyn

Deans of faculty circa 1942: Heniot Levy post-WWII to the late 1960s: Irwin Fischer circa mid-1980s: E. Harvey Jewell, DMA 1972-1981: Leo Edward Heim late 1980s: Carl L. Waldschmidt, PhD

Department deans circa early 1900s: Adolf Weidig, associate director and dean of the department of theoryHerringshaw's City Blue Book of Biography: Chicagoans of 1916, edited by Mae Felts Herringshaw, Chicago: Clark J. Herringshaw (publisher), 1916

Faculty, guest teachers and associates For over a century, many prominent artists, including some who had their musical training in Europe, taught master classes in piano and other instruments at the American Conservatory. Among them were pianist Josef Lhévinne from the Soviet Union, a colleague of Sergei Rachmaninoff, and his student Adele Marcus. Both taught primarily at the Juilliard School in New York City.

From the post-WWII years to the late 1960s, Irwin Fischer, composer, pianist, and conductor, served as dean of faculty and conductor of the American Conservatory Orchestra. Violinist Scott Willits coached many members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1940 to 1974. Acclaimed pianist William Browning, heir of the Brahms-Schumann piano dynasty and one of the legendary pianists and teachers of the 20th century, was on faculty from 1957 to 1989. Pianist Wilhelmina Pouget, student of Walter Gieseking, specialized in late Romantic piano technique in the 1970s.

Notable faculty members

Warren Benfield (1913–2001), double-bass David Scull Bispham (1857–1921) Bobby Broom (born 1961), taught jazz guitar at ACM from 1986 to 1990 William Browning (1924–1997), piano Edward Joseph Collins (1886-1951), piano Jacques Gordon (1897–1948) Ervin Kleffman (1892–1987) Heniot Levy (1879–1945) Josef Lhévinne (1874–1944) Wilhelm Middelschulte (1863–1943) Rudolph Reuter (1888-1973), piano Louise Robyn (1878-1949) Mae Doelling Schmidt (1889–1965), piano Silvio Scionti (1882–1973), piano Henry Sopkin (1903–1988), conductor of the Conservatory Symphony Orchestra Leo Sowerby (1895–1968) Albert Pearson Stewart (1907–1991), director Purdue Musical Organizations Charles Vernon, bass trombone Adolf Weidig (1867–1931), music theory Grace Welsh (1895 -1999), piano Marie Sidenius Zendt (1882–1968), voice

Alumni Pulitzer Prize for Music recipients

1946 – Leo Sowerby (1895–1968), pianist & composer, Master of Music 1918 1952 – Gail Kubik (1914–1984), Master of Music 1936 1976 – Ned Rorem (born 1923), studied with Leo Sowerby 1938–1939 1979 – Joseph Schwantner (born 1943), Bachelor of Music 1964 1986 – George Perle (1915–2009), Master of Music 1942 2016 – Henry Threadgill (born 1944), Bachelor of Music 1974

Other notable alumni

Robert Theodore Anderson E Mark Andersen, composer and organist Victor Arden Eden Atwood Thurman Barker Walter Barnes Wishart Bryan Bellmusicalartsindiana.org:"About" Edward Bland Mwata Bowden Edith Borroff Storm Bull Paul Callaway Edo Castro William Rogers Chapman, pianist, conductor, composer, and impresario Edward Joseph Collins William Levi Dawson Jack DeJohnette (piano) Mae Doelling Richard Dufallo Amy Ellerman Robert Fizdale Zelma Watson George Floyd Freeman Graham Kirby Grant Hoon, Jr. Kurt Kaiser Donald M. Kendrick Dina Koston Robert E. Kreutz Gail Kubik Norman Luboff"Hint to Singers," Wisconsin State Journal, col. 3, May 12, 1953 Maurice McAdow Barbara McNair Dennis Morgan Paul Parmelee John W. Peterson Madalyn Akers Phillips, composer, organist Florence Price Robert O. Ragland, film score composer, conductor, orchestrator Joseph John Richards Brad Richter Reginald Robinson Helen Roessing Mildred Barnes Royse composer Olive Nelson Russell composer, organist, pianist Kenn Smith, guitarist, bassist, composer Francisco Santiago Ruth Crawford Seeger, composer and musicologist Henry Sopkin (1903–1988), conductor Leon Stein, composer Lennie Tristano John Walker, organist Valerie Wellington Grace Welsh Helen Searles Westbrook, composer and organist Jeanette Williams Eldee Young, jazz double-bassist

Recipients of honorary doctorates

1938 — Cecil Burleigh (1885–1980) 1938 — Earl Vincent Moore (1890–1987) 1950 — Tauno Hannikainen (1896–1968)"Tauno Hannikainen, Conductor, Noted Sibelius Interpreter, Dies," The New York Times, October 13, 1968 1951 — MusD, Wilfred Conwell Bain (1908–1997), Dean of University of North Texas College of Music & Jacobs School of MusicWho's Who in America, Vol. 33 (1964–1965), pg. 93 Marquis Who's Who, Inc. 1987 — George Perle (1915–2009), 1986 recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Music, received his honorary doctorate at the conservatory's 100th anniversary commencement"Long-ignored Composer George Perle Unfazed Standing In Pulitzer Spotlight," by John Richard von Rhein, Chicago Tribune, June 8, 1986 1990 — Vernon R. Nelson, president, American Conservatory of Music

Former locations ????–1975: 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Fine Arts Building 1975–1987: 116 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago 1987–1991: 17 N. State Street, Chicago, Stevens BuildingDavid Ibata, "American Conservatory of Music Plans Near West Side Move," Chicago Tribune, April 16, 1985"Debts Force the Closing of Famed Music School," by Joseph Kirby, Chicago Tribune, April 21, 1991

1975–1991 restructuring efforts 1975 acquisition & 1983 sale of building In 1975, using funds from its endowment, the conservatory acquired and renovated a 17-story, 105,400-square-foot "turn-of-the-century" office building at 116 S. Michigan for about $1.2 million and moved from the Fine Arts Building at 410 S. Michigan Avenue. The conservatory's strategy was to occupy part of the building and earn enough rent income to cover some losses. But that plan failed, and in 1983, the conservatory sold the building to developer Horwitz Matthews, Inc. — Tem H. Horwitz (born 1944) and E. Curtis Matthews Jr. (born 1943) — who launched their own $4.5 million renovation.Note: In 1979, Horwitz authored the book How to Set Up and Run Successful Nonprofit Arts Organizations, published by Chicago Review Press, of which E. Curtis Matthews Jr. was CEO. That year, they gave the conservatory, which had been occupying 25,000 square feet on 4-1/2 floors, two years to find new quarters for its 125 faculty members and 250 full-time and 800 part-time students.

1987 Chapter 11 bankruptcy