Fame school principal dies, 94
RIPRichard Klein, principal of New York’s High School of Music and Art, has died, aged 94.
He unified two schools in 1984, creating Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and the Performing Arts, on which the movie Fame was based.
He went on to found the New World School of the Arts in Miami and was a director of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC.
The principal of the High School of Performing Arts, my alma mater. Rest in peace, Sir.
Correction: Richard Klein did not unify the H.S of Music & Art with the H.S. of Performing Arts. Richard Klein presided over this unification. NYC budget cuts to schools was the cause for this unfortunate outcome. As an alumni of M&A (1968) I must point out that the differences between these two schools was enormous. For one, Music & Art required an academic excellence that made it one of the top High Schools in the country. Emphasis was on the Humanities and an in-depth introduction to Literature, Music, Art and Performance. We had 4 symphony orchestras, numerous bands, etc. It was “Hogwarts” before Rowlings could write cursive.The graduating classes were accepted to the most august Universities. On the other hand, Performing Arts was well, strictly about performing arts . No art classes and poor academic standing. The purpose of PA was to prepare students albeit for the stage, Broadway and TV. Their were classes in dance, voice, acting, etc. In short, the H.S of Music and Art was a glorious place, “The Castle on the Hill”. Performing Arts was a prep-school for stage and screen.