
Congrats to the Conservatory Class of 2023!
Sunday, April 23 was a celebration at Merit School of Music as we recognized the incredible successes of the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory Class of 2023. Merit’s graduation ceremony is
Bringing accessible, high-quality music education to Chicagoland communities.
Even as we make our way through this season of chilly, snowy days, growth and excitement can be seen, heard, and felt in Merit School of Music’s young musicians, who are ardently preparing for their bright futures.
Merit’s Associate Board recently hosted a Leadership Institute panel at the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center here in the West Loop to discuss with students topics such as building careers, facing rejection, and deciding what comes next in their musical journeys. Merit’s Leadership Institute is a free mentorship program supporting Conservatory high school juniors and seniors as they prepare for their first year of college.
In the session moderated by Associate Board members Conrad Devin and Eduardo Lopez, arts administrators (Tim Corpus, Kurt Gildow, and Richard Riedl), a record label executive (Binta Niambi Brown), and employees of music technology company, Shure Incorporated (Chery Jennison DaProza and Brent Shumard) shared their experiences with our students on how they found their career paths, how their musical training and education has supported their goals, and expanded definitions for our students of what careers in music can look like beyond performance and teaching.
Read below for some key insights and advice shared by our panelists.
– Binta Niambi Brown, Founder & Executive, Omalilly Projects
– Tim Corpus, Composer & Arts Manager
– Cheryl Jennison DaProza, Associate Manager of Corporate Communications, Shure Inc.
– Richard Riedl, Manager of Governing Member Gifts, Chicago Symphony Orchestra
– Brent Shumard, Acoustical Engineer, Shure Inc.
While planning for the future and navigating career paths can be nerve-wracking for young students, hearing firsthand from these talented professionals may just be the support and reassurance these students need to keep the music, and joy, alive.
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Sunday, April 23 was a celebration at Merit School of Music as we recognized the incredible successes of the Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory Class of 2023. Merit’s graduation ceremony is
Guests ascended the Four Seasons‘ grand staircase in style, serenaded by more than a dozen young violinists and cellists. Live jazz provided the perfect ambience for cocktail hour. From the
Joy Faith Knapp Music Center
38 S Peoria St, Chicago, IL 60607
312-786-9428
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