Music Conservatory of Sandpoint Inc

Music reaches!  Music develops! Music inspires!  The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint is an accredited school of performing arts bringing specialized music education and a diversity of year round programming to our community with consistency and continued outreach. Serving beginner students to serious musicians, we understand the benefits of music at any age, pursued for a lifetime.

 

Who We Are:  Serving over 250 students annually, MCS provides private and group instruction to K-12 and adult students in voice, piano, guitar and most orchestral instruments. We round out our offerings with sequential early childhood education for the youngest musicians, exposing youngsters and parents to the benefits of music as a building block of education.

 

Outreach:  In 2014, MCS brought its professionally developed music curriculum, which includes choirs and two orchestras, directly into the lives of young people through low cost after school programming. Partnering with community supporters and grant funders, nearly 300 students have been served to date.

 

Community Programming:  Last year, MCS provided over 184 hours of free or low cost instruction from 23 artists, which included international conductors, as well as volunteering local artists. Compare this to a typical year of private lessons that could cost nearly $2000 (with instrument purchase), students in these programs receive 32 weeks of instruction for a $55 annual registration fee, which equates to less than $1 per hour of instruction!  Through donor support, MCS also loans instruments free of charge.

 

Senior Savings:  MCS now offers a free Mandolin Orchestra group class, specifically designed to connect seniors to a timeless instrument, the mandolin.  Through this unique weekly offering, participants meet with like-minded musicians and make beautiful music together.

 

Fundraising History:  On an annual basis, MCS raises an average of $50,000-70,000 to secure our outreach programs and provide scholarship options for students. Our grant supporters include the Community Assistance League (CAL), Inland Northwest Community Foundation (INWCF), and the Idaho Community Foundation (ICF).  Locally, we are proud to have the support of the Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC), Sandpoint Super Drug, DISH Restaurant, Rokstad Ford, and Trinity at City Beach.

 

Why We Serve:  By putting students in charge of an instrument, be it a clarinet or their own voice in a focused and safe after school environment, the Conservatory offers students an opportunity to develop a strong sense of excellence, self-respect, and long term skill development. Music education in the early years has been linked to greater success and academic achievement. In addition, we are committed to removing economic barriers and increasing participation for all.

 

Project and Programming Needs:  In October 2015, MCS launched a community-wide Melody Makers campaign designed to support our scholarship programming with a goal of raising $10,000 by August 1, 2016. We have received $3519 to date.  We still need $6481 to reach our goal as well as community-minded businesses to help sustain these programs into the next decade.  MCS also seeks Pillars at $10,000 annually for a three year commitment to support our valuable outreach programs. With your support, MCS can solidify its low cost after-school choirs and orchestras and expand its skill-building programs. Thank you for supporting our students and school with your generous gift!