We have an incredibly close-knit community of students, families, and friends, and we are proud that our special community has been called “nurturing,” “kind,” and “supportive” by so many of its members. With young students becoming friends through making music together, families striking up relationships in our cozy waiting areas, adult learners connecting in our monthly Salons, and faculty members playing concerts together, the St. Joseph’s School of Music community is a diverse fabric of new and life-long friendships. We know that music truly brings people together!
We serve over 800 students annually. We are big enough to offer an incredibly wide range of opportunities for performances, competitions, and community involvement, and we are small enough to keep the focus on one-on-one attention for lessons and small class sizes for group classes. This balance serves as the foundation to our strong community spirit and the caring relationships between faculty, students, families, and our administrative team. At St. Joe’s, you will always be heard and your musical goals will always be eagerly supported.
Our friendly faculty list boasts some of the best musicians in the Midwest. Nearly all of our artist teachers hold masters or doctoral degrees in music and maintain performing careers in addition to their teaching schedules. They have performed with such diverse organizations as the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, Children’s Theater Company, VocalEssence, and with everyone from the Dale Warland Singers to Josh Groban to Michael Bublé. Many of our faculty members have been featured on Minnesota Public Radio, have played in Grammy-winning ensembles, and have performed at prestigious venues throughout the world. Dedicated to their students, they are also active in the Music Teachers National Association, Minnesota Music Teachers Association, Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, the Suzuki Association of Minnesota, and more.
We are proud that our large size allows us to offer a diverse array of opportunities for students. Our performance opportunities include studio recitals that can take place in our Recital Hall or off-campus, bi-monthly Musicales for students of all instruments, frequent Care Concerts in retirement and nursing home communities, casual Salons for adult students to share works in progress, and a variety of other regional and national opportunities as encouraged by instructors. Students at all levels are always welcome to perform. For our advanced students, we hold a prestigious Honors Competition every spring, the winners of which are invited to perform in our special Honors Concert. And we end every school year with our grand celebration at the end of May – Showcase Night! Showcase is an evening filled with musical activities, crafts, and performances by students and faculty alike. The opportunities at St. Joe’s truly are endless!
As a proud nonprofit organization with strong roots in community outreach and accessible education, we care more than anything about positively impacting as many lives as possible through the study, exploration, and love of music. Our welcoming community and faculty of teaching artists nurture the joy of learning music in people of all ages, abilities, and aspirations. Providing musical and educational experiences for every person who wants them is our priority, and we truly have something for everyone—from babies to retirees!
St. Joseph’s School of Music is committed to being welcoming and accessible to everyone. As a non-denominational, non-profit organization, we are proud to serve a diverse community of students of every age, background, and income-level. We have a variety of scholarship opportunities and payment plans available to help make everybody’s musical dreams a reality, and we believe that diversity is the keystone of our harmonious community.
Our students are everywhere! Talented St. Joe’s students excel in school and area student orchestras and bands, as well as in state and national competitions. Many of them participate in the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies, Minnesota Youth Symphonies, Suzuki Association of Minnesota Statewide Graduation Recitals, Minnesota Music Teachers Associations Piano Competition and Exams, St. Paul Piano Teachers Association Honors Recitals, and have been accepted to top-rated music schools. Most importantly, students of all levels at St. Joe’s are inspired to pursue their musical goals and nurture their creativity. In fact, St. Joe’s is such a special place that a few of our past music students are now teaching here!
We are here for your musical goals, whatever they may be! Whether you’re preparing for music conservatory auditions or just looking to learn a new skill for fun, our teachers are here to offer you the high-quality education and individual support you need. Performance opportunities are endless for those who want them, and the amount of involvement in concerts and events is totally up to the student. Worried about committing to weekly lessons? We offer a Flex Pass for adult students to schedule lessons at their convenience. Not sure which instrument to focus on? Feel free to take lessons in a variety of instruments, or try a group class. No musical journey is possible without the flexibility to explore and experiment!
We are proud to be an important part of St. Paul’s rich musical history – our provenance of providing music education will soon mark 150 years! St. Joseph’s School of Music has roots all the way back to 1870 through the Sisters of St. Joseph Carondelet who founded St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Agatha’s Conservatory. The two music departments merged and were reimagined in 1970 as St. Joseph’s School of Music. Initially resident in the Carondelet Center adjacent to St. Catherine University, the School has moved several times over the years to accommodate its growth, and in 2022 established its home at 1619 Dayton Avenue.
We are centrally located at the intersection of Saint Paul’s vibrant Mac-Groveland/Merriam Park neighborhoods and easy to get to from Snelling and Selby Avenues, and from I-94. Newly settled in 2022 in the historic Richards Gordon School, we are honored to be a part of St. Paul history and the dynamic legacy of education and community involvement. For parents wanting to unwind or run errands, Whole Foods, Starbucks, Rose Street Patisserie, Patina, Cadenza Music, and many restaurants are a short walk away, and Target is a short drive. To top it off, our building’s large lot means that free parking is never a problem!
