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Welcome to��the harpsichord and early music program��at the ��ƷSM����ӰƬ College of Music!

The College of Music offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in harpsichord, as well as a master’s in early keyboard performance and musicology (double degree in performance and research).

Harpsichord majors concentrate on the study of solo literature spanning the entire breadth of harpsichord repertoire, preparing for careers in solo performance. Additional required coursework includes basso-continuo accompaniment, participation in the early music ensemble, tuning and temperaments and the study of historical performance practices. Harpsichord study is also available as an option for keyboard undergraduate majors to satisfy degree requirements in a second performance area or as an elective at any level.��

The college owns harpsichords by Keith Hill, Devin Golka (workshop of Keith Hill) and Frank Hubbard.

Applicants should carefully review each degree plan and reach out with any questions regarding degree requirements.��

Students interested in pursuing historical performance on instruments other than early keyboards are encouraged to contact Assistant Professor of Harpsichord Lillian Gordis to discuss possible accommodations.��

Lillian Gordis

Born in 1992 into a family of scholars and mathematicians in Berkeley, California, Lillian Gordis fell in love with the harpsichord at age 9 and never looked back. Five years later, Pierre Hantaï discovered her during a tour to the United States and, captivated by her touch, he encouraged her to move to France for further studies. Gordis moved to Paris at age 16 where she was mentored by Hantaï and Bertrand Cuiller. Hailed as a “Martha Argerich of the harpsichord” (ResMusica), Gordis regularly performs as a soloist in festivals across Europe and the United States and frequently plays in a duo with Jérôme Hantaï. Gordis’ most recent album—a double-disc dedicated to Bach (Paraty Productions, 2022)—was awarded a Diapason d’Or and has received praise in the press worldwide (Gramophone, Scherzo, American Record Guide, Fono Forum, Qobuz and other media). It was a “coup de cœur nouveauté” on France Musique (Relax !, Lionel Esparza) and was also featured on the program “Le Bach du Dimanche” (Corinne Schneider). Her first solo recording—“Zones” (Paraty Productions, 2019)—was entirely dedicated to the sonatas of Domenico Scarlatti. Gordis’ next solo album—a second volume of Bach’s keyboard works—will appear in 2025.��MORE