St. Joseph School of Music-St. Paul Conservatory

Exciting News: Two Premier Saint Paul Music Schools Announce Merger

The governing boards of Saint Paul Conservatory of Music (SPCM) and St. Joseph’s School of Music (SJSM) are proud to announce that they have merged to create a new school, effective October 1, 2024.

Board Chair of the newly merged school Nina Archabal notes that, “The new school will build on the strengths of both schools and honor their legacies in Saint Paul.”

The merged school is now operating out of the restored, historic Richards Gordon School at 1619 Dayton Ave, which has been the home of St. Joseph’s School of Music since early 2022. A new name for the merged school will be announced in the coming months.

The merged school enrolled 650 students this fall and has engaged 90 faculty members. In addition to music lessons the new school will give free concerts in the community, offer master classes, summer music camps, an honors competition, a nationally recognized chamber music institute, provide service to Saint Paul Public Schools and reach out into greater Minnesota with online lessons and in-person opportunities for aspiring musicians. Scholarships are available to ensure that the school’s offerings are accessible to all.

The new school will be led by Mary Larew, formerly the Executive Director of Saint Paul Conservatory of Music. 

Madeline Cieslak, longtime, distinguished Executive Director of St. Joseph’s School of Music, will assist Larew for several months during the transition as the two schools join their operations, and will retire at the end of January 2025. Cieslak has been named Director Emerita in recognition of her inspiring leadership of the school for seventeen years.

“The merging of these two wonderful Saint Paul-based community music schools opens so many prospects for our collective future,” said Larew. “Both schools historically shared 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.”

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. For more information, visit stjomusic.org.

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.” For more information, visit thespcm.org.