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This prestigious performing-arts school opened in 1905 as an attempt to rival European music institutions. Originally called the Institute of Musical Art, it then merged with the Juilliard Graduate School in 1926, eventually moving to its current home at Lincoln Center in 1968. Now offering programs in such areas as dance and drama in addition to music, Juilliard boasts several theaters on campus which double as practice and performance spaces. The 933-seat Peter J. Sharp Theater and 278-seat Paul Recital Hall are the largest auditoriums and host performances open to the public. At the former, spectators can watch student opera, dance, and orchestra productions, as well as annual electronic music festivals. The Paul, meanwhile, houses jazz and faculty recitals. The spaces date to the sixties and share a grand-but-dark feel, with cherrywood panels, crimson carpets, and, in the case of Paul Hall, an enormous Holtkamp organ. Other spaces include the Morse Hall (for smaller recitals) and the Stephanie P. McClelland Theater (for drama productions). A 2010 expansion will see several new performance spaces, including Juilliard’s first traditional black box and an airy dance studio. — Hannah Geller