Merit School of Music

Merit School of Music Removing barriers to high-quality music education.
(265)

Move, dance, and enjoy the sounds of Meritโ€™s Wind Symphony THIS SATURDAY at Tango with Jedis: A Sensory- & Family-friend...
02/28/2025

Move, dance, and enjoy the sounds of Meritโ€™s Wind Symphony THIS SATURDAY at Tango with Jedis: A Sensory- & Family-friendly Concert! Hear familiar favorites while you experience a special sensory-friendly event where the audience is encouraged to move around, make noise, take breaks, clap along, and more. ๐Ÿ‘ Children and adults of all ages and abilities welcome!

๐Ÿ“† Saturday, March 1
๐Ÿ•™ 10:00am
๐Ÿ“ 38 S Peoria St.

Get your FREE ticket โžก๏ธ https://hubs.la/Q038Ny4Q0. See you there! ๐Ÿ‘‹

๐ŸŽถโœจ During Black History Month, and every month, weโ€™re celebrating Black voices, composers, musicians, and artistsโ€”starti...
02/26/2025

๐ŸŽถโœจ During Black History Month, and every month, weโ€™re celebrating Black voices, composers, musicians, and artistsโ€”starting with our own Merit community!

๐ŸŽง Check out our ever-growing playlist featuring music by our talented alums, faculty, and staff: https://hubs.la/Q038vjqc0

Plus, Merit's Chief of Staff & Culture, Khelsey Zarraga, is part of D-Composed Chicago, a Black chamber music collective celebrating and uplifting the work of Black composers. She shared some incredible playlists to help you discover more amazing Black musicians. Check them out! ๐Ÿ‘‰ https://hubs.la/Q038t_tT0

Playlist ยท Merit School of Music ยท 11 items

โ˜€๏ธ Our Summer Catalog is LIVE! ๐Ÿ˜Ž Get ready for a summer packed with fun, learning, and amazing music at our camps and cl...
02/25/2025

โ˜€๏ธ Our Summer Catalog is LIVE! ๐Ÿ˜Ž Get ready for a summer packed with fun, learning, and amazing music at our camps and classes.

Browse the catalog today! https://hubs.la/Q0384dbn0. Registration for camps and classes begins March 15. Priority registration for returning families opens March 3. โœจ

With options for all ages, instruments, and experience levels, summer at Merit is a great way for kids and teens to stay social and creative while school is out. Camps and classes registration opens March 15. Priority registration for...

Last week brought two exciting opportunities for our students with Lyric Opera of Chicago! On Tuesday, four Conservatory...
02/20/2025

Last week brought two exciting opportunities for our students with Lyric Opera of Chicago! On Tuesday, four Conservatory voice students were invited to experience a Lyric Opera Chorus rehearsal firsthand. They were thrilled to sit alongside the choristers and absorb everything they could from the rehearsal; afterwards, they had the chance to talk to Chorus Director Michael Black and ask questions. On Saturday, we were thrilled to welcome Maestro Enrique Mazzola back to the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, where he rehearsed the first movement of Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov with Merit Philharmonic.

Thanks to Maestro Mazzola, Maestro Black, and the team at Lyric Opera of Chicago for expanding and enriching our studentsโ€™ musical education! ๐Ÿ™โค๏ธ

โœจ WINNER WINNER!๐Ÿ†  Yesterday, over 40 students took part in our annual Conservatory Solo Competition in pursuit of two e...
02/18/2025

โœจ WINNER WINNER!๐Ÿ† Yesterday, over 40 students took part in our annual Conservatory Solo Competition in pursuit of two exciting prizes: an opportunity to play a concerto with one of our ensembles and a scholarship for private lessons. We're excited to announce that cellist John Mangum won the concerto division, and violist Noah Sosnowski won the private lesson scholarship! ๐ŸŽป

Concerto Division
Winner - John Mangum, cello, student of Karen Basrak
1st Runner Up - Emily Pรฉrez-Ojeda, clarinet, student of Anna Najoom
2nd Runner Up - Simon Cegys, piano, student of Weiwen Ma

Private Lesson Division
1st Place - Noah Sosnowski, viola, student of Peter Slowik
2nd Place - Oliver Poole, horn, student of Lisa Taylor
3rd Place - Simon Cegys, piano, student of Weiwen Ma
4th Place - Eduard Liberzon, guitar, student of Bob Sherman

CONGRATS ๐ŸŽ‰ to John, Noah, and the runners-up for the Conservatory Solo Competition! Help us celebrate them in the comments below! โฌ‡๏ธ

Congratulations ๐ŸŽ‰ to the Purple Hippopotami flute ensemble on receiving an Honorable Mention at the 30th Annual Rembrand...
02/14/2025

Congratulations ๐ŸŽ‰ to the Purple Hippopotami flute ensemble on receiving an Honorable Mention at the 30th Annual Rembrandt Chamber Musicians High School Chamber Music Competition last Sunday! Great job to Jacob C., Jazmyn I., Kaylee J., and Xavier K. ๐Ÿ’œ๐Ÿฆ›

Two of our other chamber ensembles were also selected as finalists and gave wonderful performances at Sunday's competition: Spizella Quartet (Aki S., John M., Olivia D., and Paloma C.) and Guitarnavore (Eddy L., Eduardo M., and Raffi L.).

Let's give them a round of applause! ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

We are heartbroken to say farewell to a beloved longtime faculty member, Jeff Norris. Hard-working, dedicated, and enthu...
02/13/2025

We are heartbroken to say farewell to a beloved longtime faculty member, Jeff Norris. Hard-working, dedicated, and enthusiastic, Jeff served as a nurturing presence for the hundreds of young musicians he taught in private lessons, group classes, and in our community sites for over 33 years.

Jeff was well-loved and respected by his colleagues, who admired his passion for sharing music and his quiet dedication to his students. โ€œHe was always quick to tell you about his studentsโ€™ progress and excitement for the piano,โ€ remembers Dean and Vice President for Educational Affairs Kurtis Gildow. โ€œJeff fostered that excitement for so many.โ€ Even after his retirement in 2020, Jeff continued to support Meritโ€™s mission and its students, always eager to step back into the classroom if a substitute piano teacher was needed or attend a concert to cheer on the young musicians.

Jeffโ€™s legacy lives on in the countless students whose lives were touched by his passion and dedication. While we grieve this loss, we will be forever grateful for the warmth and wisdom he shared with us. โค๏ธ

A round of applause ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ for our piano students who recently competed at the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association - CA...
02/12/2025

A round of applause ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ for our piano students who recently competed at the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association - CAMTA Sonata-Sonatina Festival! A whopping 51โ€ผ๏ธ students from Merit received gold, silver, or bronze in their categories.

๐Ÿฅ‡ Miley Hu, Ian Kim
๐Ÿฅˆ Connie Chen, David Hua, Claire Kim, Elena Kim, Constance Lin, Timothy Muhammad, Taeyoon Song, Lexi Short, Daniel Zhao, Noah Zhong
๐Ÿฅ‰ Aidan Lin, Niam Sheng
Studio of Dr. Seungwha Baek ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅ‡ Alex Langlois, Margaret Qin, Joaquin Turpo
๐Ÿฅˆ Jonathan Ban, Haley Chen, Olivia Han, Autumn Luu, Yvonne Mei, George Qin, Ella Sang, Ivan Yang
Studio of Dr. Elena Doubovitskaya ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅˆ Valerie Cheung, Eva Kim
Studio of Mijin Kim ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅˆ Sen-da Mei, Marlina Wu
Studio of Anna Kovalevska ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅ‡ Emika Matsumura
๐Ÿฅˆ Kai Matsumura, Fionna Wu
๐Ÿฅ‰ Emily Mei
Studio of Alessandra Odazaki-Rodriguez ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅ‡ Isabella Linguanti
๐Ÿฅˆ Amare Bevel, Caden Chu, Casey Chu, Kimberly Gao, Amber Han, Celia Ho, Emmanuel Jen, Elvis Ling, Charlotte Linguanti, Aiden Phung, Emily Yau, Erica Yau
Studio of Toshiko Suzuki ๐ŸŽน

๐Ÿฅ‡ Jaelyn Chen, Anthony Lai, Emma Xin
๐Ÿฅˆ Kevin Li, Hannah Wiley
Studio of Dr. Ann Yi ๐ŸŽน

Bravo ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘ to all the students and their wonderful teachers!

๐ŸŽค We're HIRING! ๐ŸŒŸ We are seeking a dynamic voice instructor to teach private lessons and help shape the next generation ...
02/11/2025

๐ŸŽค We're HIRING! ๐ŸŒŸ We are seeking a dynamic voice instructor to teach private lessons and help shape the next generation of young musicians. Apply now! โžก๏ธโžก๏ธโžก๏ธ https://hubs.la/Q036d5zc0

If you're looking to get the most out of your practice time in 2025, you're in good company. Whether you're a seasoned p...
02/01/2025

If you're looking to get the most out of your practice time in 2025, you're in good company. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a budding musician, effective practice is the key to unlocking your potential and advancing your skills. Check out our latest blog post for six strategies to help you fine-tune your practice habits! https://hubs.ly/Q034YQNT0

On Monday, our students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a masterclass with Demarre McGill, Principal Fl...
01/24/2025

On Monday, our students had the incredible opportunity to participate in a masterclass with Demarre McGill, Principal Flutist of the Seattle Symphony and a proud Merit alum! ๐ŸŽถ Four talented Merit students and Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative fellows took the stage to perform and receive invaluable feedback to enhance their musicality and expression. A heartfelt thank you to Mr. McGill for generously sharing his expertise and inspiring the next generation of musicians.

01/22/2025

Bravo ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ to the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory chamber ensembles on their recent concert! Enjoy a few highlights from the evening. ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽป

The Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) and Merit School of Music are thrilled to partner in bringing you a rare ...
01/16/2025

The Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) and Merit School of Music are thrilled to partner in bringing you a rare opportunity to experience a masterclass with preeminent soloist, Seattle Symphony Principal Flute, and Merit alumnus Demarre McGill. Join us THIS MONDAY at 6:30pm to listen and learn from this world-renowned musician as he works with CMPI Fellows Jacob Cornejo, Jesse Perez, Jazmyn Irons, and Kaylee Johnson. Please RSVP for this FREE event using the QR code. Thanks to our friends at the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras for sharing their space for this event!

La Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI) y la Merit School of Music estรกn encantadas de asociarse para brindarle una oportunidad รบnica de asistir a una clase magistral con el destacado solista, flautista principal de la Sinfรณnica de Seattle y exalumno de Merit, Demarre McGill. รšnase a nosotros ESTE LUNES a las 6:30 p. m. para escuchar y aprender de este mรบsico de renombre mundial mientras trabaja con los becarios de CMPI Jacob Cornejo, Jesse Pรฉrez, Jazmyn Irons y Kaylee Johnson. Confirme su asistencia a este evento GRATUITO utilizando el cรณdigo QR. ยกGracias a nuestros amigos de las Orquestas Sinfรณnicas Juveniles de Chicago por compartir su espacio para este evento!

Calling all passionate student musicians! ๐Ÿ“ฃ  Join us for Merit's Conservatory Open House to learn all about this vibrant...
01/11/2025

Calling all passionate student musicians! ๐Ÿ“ฃ Join us for Merit's Conservatory Open House to learn all about this vibrant, supportive community where you can grow, learn, and strive for musical excellence.โœจ Connect with our expert faculty, tour our building, and learn how our enriching environment can help you elevate your musical journey!

๐Ÿ“† Saturday, January 25
๐Ÿ•ง 12:30pm - Band, Jazz, Choir, & Piano; 2:30pm - Strings & Guitar
๐Ÿ“ Joy Faith Knapp Music Center

Let us know you'll be there! https://hubs.la/Q03270Yp0. ๐ŸŽถ

โ€œIf I hadn't gone to Merit, I wouldn't have gone to Harvard," says alum Kamila Hines Muhammad. "To know that I have the ...
12/30/2024

โ€œIf I hadn't gone to Merit, I wouldn't have gone to Harvard," says alum Kamila Hines Muhammad. "To know that I have the potential to be great and to maximize that potential is something that I got from Merit; being there lit a fire under me and was a catalyst for me to exceed and excel in a way that I wouldn't have otherwise.โ€โ€‹

We recently sat down with Kamila, Merit alum, former faculty member, and recently appointed Chair of the Associate Board. Read the interview, where she shares her incredible journey from Merit to Harvard and beyond, on our blog โžก๏ธ https://hubs.la/Q030nxVs0

Beautiful music poured from the Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall as the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory recently held its Wi...
12/23/2024

Beautiful music poured from the Anne and Howard Gottlieb Hall as the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory recently held its Winter Concerts. With over nine hours of concerts performed by hundreds of students in 18 different ensembles, the two days were a whirlwind of excitement, artistry, and inspiration with a dash of holiday cheer.

But this year's Winter Concerts also served as a moment for reflection and appreciation as we honored the life and legacy of a cherished friend and supporter of Merit, Howard Gottlieb. A longtime Merit Board Trustee and Life Trustee, Howardโ€˜s steadfast generosity and dedication to our students transformed countless lives and made an enduring impact on our community. Learn more about the Winter Concerts and how Howard's legacy continues to support Merit's mission at our new blog post: https://hubs.la/Q030nvjw0

YOU'RE INVITED ๐Ÿ’Œ to Merit's Conservatory Open House!The Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory provides specialized training to ...
12/20/2024

YOU'RE INVITED ๐Ÿ’Œ to Merit's Conservatory Open House!

The Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory provides specialized training to Chicagolandโ€™s most promising youth musiciansโ€”completely tuition-free! Whether you're interested in joining the Conservatory or just curious what it's all about, we hope you stop by to tour Merit's building, get info on upcoming auditions, and see if Conservatory might be right for you!

๐Ÿ“† Saturday, January 25
๐Ÿ•ง 12:30pm - Band, Jazz, Choir, & Piano; 2:30pm - Strings & Guitar
๐Ÿ“ Joy Faith Knapp Music Center

Learn more and let us know you'll be there at https://hubs.la/Q030njhr0

Address

38 S Peoria Street
Chicago, IL
60607

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Merit School of Music posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Merit School of Music:

Videos

Share