 The Conservatoire was established between 1923 and 1931 by some of the most illustrious émigré professors from the music schools of Imperial Russia, who included Feodor Chaliapin, Alexander Glazunov, Alexander Gretchaninov, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.Rachmaninoff was the institution's first honorary president and later became its namesake.The first Director of the Conservatoire, was invited Serge Wolkonsky.