New World School of the Arts has selected a new dean to lead its award-winning music program. Milton Rubén Laufer, DMA, an internationally acclaimed teacher, performer and scholar, will begin in his new post this August when classes resume at the renowned arts conservatory. Dr. Laufer brings a wealth of artistic, academic and administrative experience to NWSA, having held similar positions across the nation. As the Dean of Music, Dr. Laufer will serve as the chief academic and artistic officer for the Music Division of New World School of the Arts, overseeing administration of both the high school and college programs in Music.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such a brilliant, committed faculty and the ascending talents of the student body at NWSA,” said Dr. Laufer. “As Dean, my goal is to contribute significantly to the academic, artistic, and cultural life at the institution and the city of Miami. This is such an honor!”
A pianist since the age of three, Milton Rubén Laufer made his musical debut at the age of twelve in Chicago, where he was born of Cuban and Puerto Rican parents. Dr. Laufer’s training includes studies at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Moscow Conservatory, the Gnessin Institute, the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and Rice University.
Top prizes in the Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition, Young Keyboard Artists International Piano Competition, Union League Civic Arts Foundation competition, the Nena Wideman Piano Competition, and the National Federation of Music Clubs’ Stillman-Kelley Award highlight some of Dr. Laufer’s competitive accomplishments.
He has performed chamber music with members of the North Carolina Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Borromeo Quartet, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the New World Symphony.
Laufer served for 10 years on the music faculty at Peace College in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he held the Phoenix Professorship in Fine Arts and was Artistic Director of the Manning Chamber Music Series.
While in North Carolina, he founded and was Executive Director of the Sir Walter Raleigh Festival of Music, the only festival in the United States that is part of the British and International Federation of Festivals.
Most recently, Dr. Laufer worked as a senior consultant for the music technology firm, Zenph Sound Innovations and served on juries for music festivals in Germany, China, and throughout the United States.
A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Laufer has conducted extensive research in Spanish piano music. He is recognized internationally as a leading performer and scholar in this area, and his recent editions of Isaac Albéniz’s 3 Improvisations for Piano and La Vega by are published by G. Henle Verlag of Munich and available worldwide.
Currently he is writing the book, "The Pianist's Guide to the Repertoire of Spain". Dr. Laufer has recently released recordings on the Beauport Classical and Zenph Studios record labels.
About NWSA: The distinguished history of the New World School of the Arts began in 1984 when the Florida State Legislature established the institution to provide artistically talented high school and college students the means to achieve both an academic education and artistic training. In September 1986, NWSA opened its doors to students in grades ten through twelve. NWSA’s audition-based programs are accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art, Dance, Music and Theater. New World School of the Arts offers the high school diploma as well as a four-year BFA or BM college degree.
The academic music curriculum at New World School of the Arts fosters creativity and develops knowledge of musical heritage. Course work strives to develop the student's growth and maturity in comprehensive musicianship. The study of music history and theory is pursued by taking a variety of classes including foundations of music; surveys of music history in the western world, jazz and pop music in America, and music of the world's people; and seminars in composition aesthetics, jazz improvisation, chamber music, and general musicianship. Areas of concentration include piano, instrumental, composition and vocals.
New World School of the Arts was created by the Florida Legislature as a center of excellence in the performing and visual arts. It is an educational partnership of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida.
Information about the NWSA Music program is available by calling 305-237-7855 or visiting nwsa.mdc.edu.
Photo: Milton Ruben Laufer, DMA – Dean of Music, New World School of the Arts
