MCS launches tenth year of Music Matters!

As the school year begins, so do the afterschool classes and performing groups hosted by the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. Music Matters! is an all-encompassing program that meets throughout the year and enriches the lives of many of the community’s youth, enveloping them in the benefits and collaborative aspects of music and theater.

“Last year we had 322 students enrolled in our afterschool and outreach classes, and we are hoping for more this year as we have widened our range of offerings,” Kathi Samuels, Music Conservatory of Sandpoint development director, said.

The Music Matters! program encompasses all ages from early childhood through high school and has creative instruction in choir, percussion, handbells, musical theater, and more.

“Our youngest musicians may begin in our Little Mozarts or Instrument Carousel classes,” said Samuels. “For our higher-level students, there is the opportunity to audition for our advanced handbell ensemble and ensemble choir.”

The goal of Music Matters! is to bring high-quality, tuition-free music instruction to the youth in the community — an invitation to play and an open door to all.

The afterschool programs take place Monday through Friday, with the number of days varying depending upon the class, at outreach locations around the community, including Farmin-Stidwell Elementary School, Kootenai Elementary School, and at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint in Downtown Sandpoint.

“We also have a fully stocked instrument library with over 200 instruments available to our students,” said Samuels.

In addition to those receiving weekly instruction in the Music Matters! program, in April of this year, approximately 550 elementary students attended the Children Performing for Children concert at the Panida. “Over 100 children performed at this concert, an energetic, fun-filled concert of their peers,” said Samuels.

As an Arts Access program and extension of our community-friendly philosophy, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint removes all barriers to their classes. The cost to enroll ranges from $85 to $135 each year, and for those who cannot afford it, scholarships are available. They never turn away students based on cost, ensuring music is accessible to all.

“We are so grateful to our sponsors, who have made it possible for us to continue and expand the Music Matters! program,” said Samuels. Among those sponsors are the Find Your Light Foundation, the Innovia Foundation, the Idaho Community Foundation, the Idaho Commission of the Arts, and the Idaho Resilience Project. “We are excited to also welcome the Idaho Out of School Network to our sponsors for the upcoming year,” said Samuels.

The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint prioritizes encouraging children to be on stage and allowing children the opportunity to witness other children perform. They also bring musicians of all ages together and have created mentoring pathways led by older students as well as professional musicians.

Group classes for Music Matters! begin the first week in October. Samuels recommends contacting the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint before the end of September to ensure enrollment.

For more information, log onto SandpointConservatory.org or contact them at msc@SandpointConservatory.org or 208-265-4444.