Dear music lovers,
Welcome to Merit School of Music’s 2024-25 Academic Year!
The hallways of the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center are once again positively charged with the sounds of music-making and time spent with friends and peers. The students have returned from the summer renewed, refreshed, and inspired, ready to learn and continue their musical pursuits alongside their fellow musicians.
But it’s not just the students who are evolving; Merit itself is undergoing a period of exciting change. This year, we’re not only continuing our tradition of excellence—we’re expanding! From new branches in Old Town and South Shore to the expansion of several community programs, our student body continues to grow and thrive. In a time when arts programming around the country faces uncertainty, we are proud to improve access to high-quality music education throughout the city of Chicago.
Welcome back to our returning students, families, and friends! We can’t wait to see each and every young musician continue to grow and develop over the course of the year. We’d also like to extend a special welcome to our new additions, including the new families transitioning to Merit at our Near North branch! We’re thrilled you’ve chosen to be part of our community.
Enjoy a sneak peak of what this year has in store:
Expanding Merit’s Footprint Across the City
In Old Town, we recently launched our new branch, Merit Near North. We acquired The Suzuki Music School of Lincoln Park, an institution with a legacy of musical excellence owned and operated for nearly 40 years by longtime Merit faculty member, Janet Janz. We’re excited to offer our support and resources to the newest part of the Merit family as we build upon the wonderful musical community that Janet and her teachers have already established.
Learn more about some of the new faculty joining Merit Near North for the 2024-25 school year →
But that’s only the beginning. Over the summer, we entered a transformative partnership with Bryn Mawr Community Church, aimed at enhancing access to high-quality music education in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. This program will continue this fall as Merit South Shore, offering group classes in violin and cello. We’re endlessly grateful to the church and its pastor, Reverend JeVon Dion Moore, for their ongoing partnership.
We are also expanding our Comunidad de Alegre Strings program at Orozco Elementary School in the Pilsen neighborhood after a successful pilot program last school year. We have widened our offerings at Crete Monee High School in the far south suburbs as well; this year, we will augment the school’s existing music programming by offering string group classes in addition to our current private lesson support
Collaborations with Lyric Opera of Chicago
Our partnership with Lyric Opera of Chicago continues to thrive. This year, we are proud to be a part of their Opera in the Neighborhoods series. Lyric Opera will present a special performance of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World in Gottlieb Hall on Sunday, October 27 for the public, and our own Conservatory students will have the chance to experience the performance on Saturday, October 26 at Live from Gottlieb. This is an excellent opportunity for our students; in addition to hearing world-class singers right here at the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, students from our Suzuki Alegre program will provide the prelude music as the audience arrives on October 27 and again at performances hosted at Kennedy-King College Theater on October 12 and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on November 2.
Now in its third year, our partnership with Lyric’s Music Director Maestro Enrique Mazzola continues to grow. He will return to work with the Conservatory students in Merit Philharmonic this year on an exciting piece. Stay tuned for more!
Live from Gottlieb Lineup
Our weekly performance series, Live from Gottlieb, is a staple of the Conservatory experience. In the 2024-25 school year, we will host a wide array of outstanding guest artists. Just a few of the performances we’re looking forward to are PROJECT Trio, which blends classical chamber music with a unique fusion of jazz, hip-hop, and world music influences; Gaudete Brass Quintet, dedicated to creatively expanding the brass quintet repertoire; and Merit alum and Associate Board member, Julian Davis Reid’s Circle of Trust.
Día de los Muertos Sensory-Friendly Concert
Our Sensory- and Family-Friendly Concert Series has become a popular experience since we began it two years ago. These concerts are specifically designed for neurodiverse audiences and families with small children. All conventional rules for the audience are out the window as we invite concert goers to make noise, move around, and enjoy the concert in whatever way is most comfortable for them. We will also provide engaging sensory toys, ear plugs, and earmuffs for those who would like them.
Learn more about our Sensory- and Family-Friendly Concerts →
This year, the Wind Symphony will present a special Día de los Muertos Sensory- and Family-Friendly Concert on Saturday, November 2 in Gottlieb Hall. We are excited to use this accessible event to celebrate the diverse Latinx cultures represented within our student body. We hope you join us!
Masterclass Series with Anthony & Demarre McGill
Countless Merit alums have gone on to stellar careers in the music world, and we’re always thrilled when they return home to give back to the next generation. This year, we are excited to welcome back internationally renowned clarinetist Anthony McGill and flutist Demarre McGill. In conjunction with the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI), Anthony and Demarre will each present a masterclass for Merit students and CMPI fellows. These masterclasses are free and open to the public. We would love for you to join us.
Anthony McGill, clarinet
Tuesday, October 29 @ 6:30 – 8:30pm
Foreman Hall, Merit School of Music
Demarre McGill, flute
Monday, January 20 @ 6:30 – 8:30pm
Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave.
As we embark on this exciting new school year, we look forward to a journey of growth, exploration, and musical excellence together. Wishing you a wonderful school year!
All the best,
Kurtis Gildow
Dean & Vice President for Educational Affairs
