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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT - OCTOBER 7, 2024
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Two Premier Saint Paul Music Schools Announce Merger

Saint Paul, Minnesota – St. Joseph’s School of Music (SJSM) and the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music (SPCM) announced their merger this week. This formally joins two Saint Paul music schools that bring high quality music education to people of all ages, abilities, and aspirations. Both performing arts organizations share a powerful commitment to excellence and accessibility in music education, performance, appreciation, innovation, and responsiveness to the needs and interests of the community. The merger is effective for the fall semester beginning on October 1, 2024.

“The merging of these two wonderful Saint Paul-based community music schools opens so many possibilities for our collective future,” said Mary Larew, Executive Director of SPCM. “Both schools share a commitment to the highest standards of musicianship and to making music available to all members of our community, regardless of means. Merging combines our resources and our strengths, fueling more collaboration, more music, and a stronger community of music makers and music lovers.”

The two Twin Cities-based community music schools will combine their programming at SJSM’s location in the historic Richards Gordon building at 1619 Dayton Ave in Saint Paul. “This strategic merger of St. Joe’s and SPCM will build strength and sustainability,” said Madeline Cieslak, Executive Director of SJSM. “Our shared values and complementary programming will create synergy while also doubling our capacity, our reach, and our ability to serve the community. Together with our combined faculty and our vibrant community of students and families, the future is bright.”

The school plans to announce their new name in 2025.

St. Joseph’s School of Music
Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1970 through the merger of St. Joseph’s Academy Music Department with St. Agatha’s Conservatory, SJSM has a proud tradition of excellence in music education in St. Paul dating back to the 1880s. Valuing accessibility, quality, and a welcoming community, St. Joseph's School of Music positively impacts lives through the study, exploration, and love of music.

Saint Paul Conservatory of Music
The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music is a music-making community offering high quality music education to all segments of society. Here the aspirations of students of all ages and abilities are met with a commitment to excellence through creative expression, disciplined training, and performance opportunities. Always seeking new ways to make music available to more members of our community, we live by our motto, “Music for All.”