Charles-Marie Widor
After the war, Damrosch and Casadesus decided to continue this successful operation. With the full support of French authorities, as well as that of composer and organist Charles-Marie Widor, who became its first director, the American Conservatory, was granted permission to open in the Louis XV wing of the Chateau of Fontainebleau. The American Conservatory (Fr. "Conservatoire américain de Fontainebleau") intended to offer the best of French musical education to young, promising musicians.