June 28, 2005

Dear Faculty, Students and Staff:

The Manhattan School of Music will announce Tuesday the election of its next president: Robert Sirota, director of the Peabody Institute.

Disappointed as I am to lose such a talented colleague and good friend, I fully understand Dr. Sirota's decision to accept this new challenge. Having spent a decade deeply immersed in the renewal of the Peabody, culminating in the completion last year of a stunning renovation of its Mount Vernon campus, Bob is ready to return much of his focus to his work as a composer. New York City is an important venue for that work. A return to New York will also bring him closer to family in and near the city.

This talented composer, educator, and leader came to Johns Hopkins in 1995 and, since then, has led the remaking of the Peabody in more ways than one.

The most visible result of his work, of course, is the $27 million physical transformation of the Peabody campus. It was an aging and, in some respects, crumbling edifice. It is now a wonderful monument to music, with some of the finest facilities in the world and a look as beautiful as the sounds made by Peabody's students.

But Bob's transformation of Peabody has gone far beyond the physical. He started a daring institute-wide change initiative that is radically altering the way Peabody works, better aligning its operations with its mission to be one of the world's great conservatories. He has attracted enhanced support for students and faculty. He has broadened the standard model of conservatory education, making room for development of what he calls the "entrepreneurial musician."

Bob has forged closer ties between the institute and its Mount Vernon neighbors. And his influence is felt far beyond Baltimore: He has made Peabody an essential partner in the creation of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, destined to become one of the great musical institutions of the Asia-Pacific region.

In short, Bob Sirota, building on the immensely important work of his predecessor, Bob Pierce, has secured the Peabody, has strengthened it immeasurably, and leaves it well-prepared to achieve pre-eminence. For that, the entire Johns Hopkins community is grateful.

On a personal note, I will greatly miss Bob's warmth and humor, and our occasional piano duets. If it's part of a dean's job to make his president look good, Bob more than succeeded, at the keyboard as elsewhere!

Dr. Sirota will remain at Johns Hopkins until early fall and will assume his presidency Oct. 1.

This is the second time this year that another institution has tapped a Johns Hopkins dean for its next president. While, in both cases, we will miss our departing colleagues, we also recognize that these selections speak volumes about the great work that they -- and you, our faculty, students and staff -- have done at this university. We should all be most proud of our role in the launching of these two new presidencies.

I am pleased to announce that Peter Landgren, a member of the Peabody faculty since 1981, has agreed to serve as interim director of the institute. As leader of the Peabody Change Team for two years, Peter has been instrumental in designing and implementing the restructuring of the institute, collaborating with faculty, staff and senior leadership. He is co-chair of the Peabody Undergraduate Committee and a member of the Peabody Academic Council. Peter, who also is associate principal horn for the Baltimore Symphony, will be working closely with Bob Sirota over the next few months to ensure a smooth transition.

Provost Knapp and I will be announcing soon the organization of a national search for a new Peabody director. In the meantime, I look forward to working with Peter and thank him for taking on this important new assignment. And I am sure you join me in heartfelt gratitude to Bob Sirota and in best wishes to him and Vicki as they prepare for this next phase of their careers.

Sincerely,

William R. Brody