The Russian University of Theatre Arts was founded on 22 September 1878 as the Shestakovsky Music School, became the Musico-Dramatic School of the Moscow Philharmonic Society in 1883, and was elevated to the status of a conservatory in 1886. Known as the Lunacharsky State Institute for Theatre Arts (GITIS) from 1934 to 1991, it is the largest and oldest independent theatrical arts school in Russia and is located in Moscow.