It was first called the Music School at Rivers, then Rivers School Conservatory. In 1978, the "Annual Seminar on Contemporary Music for the Young" was established. It was the subject of a WGBH-TV documentary that was broadcast internationally by PBS. Seminar guests have included John Cage (1983). All pieces performed are composed in the 25-year period prior to each seminar. Many were premières and several dozen were commissioned pieces. Recent examples include "Matineé: The Fantom of the Fair" by Libby Larsen.