The Hunter College Muse Scholar Program provides a unique learning environment for artistically talented and academically strong students, allowing them to reap the benefits of Hunter's exceptional arts programs, faculty and resources.

Through tailored courses and attendance at events at Hunter and New York City arts and cultural institutions, Muse Scholars receive an unparalleled opportunity to explore the arts and engage in creative pursuits while receiving a top-notch liberal arts education.

Launched during the 2011-2012 academic year, this four-year honors program has already welcomed two classes of impressive Muse Scholars who have played Carnegie Hall, acted in Off-Broadway plays, won busking positions in the New York transit system, earned creative-writing awards, and played baseball for the East Coast Yankees, among other accomplishments.

Watch a short documentary by Muse Scholar Michael Petruso (Class of '15) to learn more about this exciting program.

Muse in the News

Robert Bronchard (Class of '16) was selected by The Associated Music Teachers' League (AMTL) as a winning pianist in the competition to play at the 78th annual Young Musicians Concert. He was featured alongside other top musicians for the May performance at Carnegie Hall.

Bronchard, a piano performance major in Hunter's Department of Music, contended with a crop of high skilled musicians in their teens and early 20s. The Young Musicians Concert features only "la crème de la crème" of developing artists, according to the AMTL.

Muse Scholar Jennifer Fernandez, Class of '16, (second from right) attended the Paul Taylor Gala at Lincoln Center with President Jennifer J. Raab (far right), Arnhold Graduate Dance Director Kathleen Isaac (second from left), Jodi Arnhold (far left), Muse Scholar Director Dara Meyers-Kingsley, and Arnhold graduate dance students (center).

Paul Taylor's company performed four dances, including a new work, his 138th piece, in the David H. Koch Theater!

Featured Program

The Muse Scholars shared their diverse talents and curatorial skills with the Hunter community during the program's inaugural Arts Showcase, held in May.

The showcase featured a gallery-style exhibition of visual art works as well as music and dance performances, readings and film screenings. Scholars Ethan Greenfield and Irina Chelidze (Class of '15) showed their short film, "The Basis of Optimism" (Photo, left).

For a complete list of student works, check out the showcase program (pdf), created by Sandra Talbot (Class of '15) and Julie Sorokurs (Class of '16).

Spotlight on Dance

Muse Scholars are receiving an insider's perspective on the dance world, thanks to a partnership with Hunter College's Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program.

In the studio and the classroom, Arnhold Director Kathleen Isaac and graduate students are working with the Muse Scholars to develop their understanding of the elements of dance. The scholars have hit the dance floor during special workshops at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Ballet Hispanico, where they have learned styles ranging from classical ballet to Bollywood, and attended Fall for Dance performances at New York City Center.