Merit School of Music

Major Chicago music nonprofit serving infants through teens

Merit School of Music is one of Chicago's flagship community music schools - founded 1979, serves 5000+ students annually across 4 locations plus in-school programs. Strong scholarship and access programming makes it a major equity player in Chicago music education.

Programs

Programs span infants through adults across solo, group, and conservatory formats. Programs include:

• Early Childhood classes (ages 0-8)
• Private lessons (ages 4+)
• Group Classes & Ensembles (ages 5-18)
• Summer Camps (ages 6-18)
• Conservatory (ages 10-18, audition-based)
• Merit Music in Communities (in-school)
• Music for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Children
• Artist Residencies

What's Included

• Joy Faith Knapp Music Center (West Loop)
• Multi-site coverage: West Loop, Near North, South Shore, Comunidad de Alegre
• Audition-based Conservatory track for advanced students
• Specialized track for deaf/hard-of-hearing students
• In-school Merit Music in Communities program

Experience

Conservatory track is unusual for a community school - serious classical progression with audition gating. Music for Deaf & Hard of Hearing program is rare nationally. Strong fit for committed students wanting institutional-quality classical music education with scholarship access. West Loop main campus accessible from across Chicago.