At the Merit School of Music Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, April 12, parents, staff, faculty, board members and students alike celebrated that true artistic growth unfolds over many years of hard work and discipline.
The members of the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory Class of 2026—59 graduating students—reflect this universal truth with their sustained efforts over many years to become the accomplished musicians they are today. What began as emerging curiosity around learning an instrument eventually resulted in a group of talented young adults walking away with a deeply refined and joyful artistry.
Throughout their time at Merit, the students engaged in countless rehearsals, performances, chamber music, masterclasses, private lessons, and ensemble work that required a significant amount of their time, individual focus, and collective responsibility. Refining musical passages, spending weekends in rehearsal spaces, and performing on Saturdays was just part of daily living while simultaneously balancing school, family obligations, and the broader demands of simply growing up. However, Merit students found plenty of time to also make new friends and connect with people who shared their love of music.
I enjoy the small moments of downtime during classes or rehearsals. Most of the time, before we start playing again, everyone is talking, joking around, and laughing together. Then, just a moment later, we shift back into being serious and focused on the music. Merit creates a safe space where we can relax and share those lighthearted moments. It makes rehearsals feel welcoming rather than structured and intense. That energy is something I’ll remember most.
One of the featured graduation speakers, Dr. Neal Abarbanell, Merit alum and Board Trustee, reflected on the enduring influence of music education and the formative role Merit can play in a young person’s life. His touching remarks about being simply “a poor kid from Chicago” and Merit “changing the trajectory of his life” during the graduation ceremony underscored something well understood within the Merit community: that the study of music shapes far more than technical ability. It develops discipline, intellectual curiosity, confidence, and an understanding that meaningful achievement is most often cumulative rather than immediate. And it’s something that he has carried with him throughout his life now as a Merit supporter and emergency room physician.
As graduates prepare for conservatories, universities, professional pursuits, and the many paths that will unfold in the years ahead, they do so having participated in a community that required the seriousness of hard work while also becoming a place to form friendships, encounter people from beyond their immediate worlds, and grow up alongside one another through years of shared artistic work.
I think that studying music has improved my work ethic and deadline-planning. When I have to perform a piece on a certain date, I know that I need to have that piece ready a few days early. I bring this logic to my everyday life.
Watching students arrive at Merit as young musicians and leave as accomplished artists and emerging leaders remains one of the institution’s great privileges. The Class of 2026 leaves behind a meaningful contribution to the life of the school and joins a growing community of alumni whose experiences at Merit continue to shape their lives in lasting ways.
To the Class of 2026: congratulations! This special moment reflects not only talent, but years of steady effort, discipline, and commitment.
