About
MacPhail Center for Music offers individual lessons, one-on-one music instruction, classes, ensembles, bands, choirs, and student recitals, as well as showcases, curated concerts, and community events. The program includes Early Childhood Sing Play Learn, Suzuki, music experiences that support early development and musical growth, Youth & Teens lessons and classes with performance opportunities, and Adult lessons, classes, and ensembles. MacPhail Center for Music also offers Community Programs, Music Therapy, Music for Life®, school partnerships, and community ensembles.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
MacPhail Center for Music was founded as the MacPhail School of Violin by William S. MacPhail in 1907, became an independent non-profit organization in 1994, and changed its name to MacPhail Center for Music in 2003. Its mission states that MacPhail Center for Music transforms lives and strengthens communities through the power of music and provides access to diverse and relevant music learning experiences, delivered by extraordinary faculty. MacPhail’s 200+ teaching artists include professional performers and dedicated educators, described as world-class teaching artists who bring their rich professional backgrounds into the studio, and the leadership team includes Michael Waldman as Vice President of Development.
MacPhail Center for Music is described as the nation’s largest community music school and has more than 100 years of transforming lives through exceptional music education. The program offers more than 35 instruments plus voice, composition, electronic music, and the recording arts, and provides instruction in four locations, online, and through dozens of community and school partnerships. MacPhail annually serves more than 15,000 students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, has 130+ community partnership sites and 3 metro locations, and awards $1.6M in scholarships and financial aid each year. Community involvement includes 130+ community partnership sites, Community Programs such as school partnerships and community ensembles, and membership in the Berklee City Music® Network, and MacPhail notes that an operating support grant is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
MacPhail Center for Music’s values are listed as Creativity, Collaboration, Responsive Listening, Access and Inclusion, and Accountability. Credentials and recognition include being identified as the nation’s largest community music school, joining the Berklee City Music® Network, and announcing four Minnesota musicians as 2026 McKnight Musician Fellows through the McKnight Fellowship for Musicians. Famous alumni named by MacPhail include Prince, Lawrence Welk, Gretchen Carlson, and Pete Docter.
Parent and adult testimonials include statements that a child comes home from every lesson smiling and motivated to practice with incredible progress, that a 71-year-old student learned everything they know about music at MacPhail, and that MacPhail has become much more than a music school and an important part of one family’s life for many years.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
MacPhail Center for Music was founded as the MacPhail School of Violin by William S. MacPhail in 1907, became an independent non-profit organization in 1994, and changed its name to MacPhail Center for Music in 2003. Its mission states that MacPhail Center for Music transforms lives and strengthens communities through the power of music and provides access to diverse and relevant music learning experiences, delivered by extraordinary faculty. MacPhail’s 200+ teaching artists include professional performers and dedicated educators, described as world-class teaching artists who bring their rich professional backgrounds into the studio, and the leadership team includes Michael Waldman as Vice President of Development.
MacPhail Center for Music is described as the nation’s largest community music school and has more than 100 years of transforming lives through exceptional music education. The program offers more than 35 instruments plus voice, composition, electronic music, and the recording arts, and provides instruction in four locations, online, and through dozens of community and school partnerships. MacPhail annually serves more than 15,000 students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, has 130+ community partnership sites and 3 metro locations, and awards $1.6M in scholarships and financial aid each year. Community involvement includes 130+ community partnership sites, Community Programs such as school partnerships and community ensembles, and membership in the Berklee City Music® Network, and MacPhail notes that an operating support grant is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
MacPhail Center for Music’s values are listed as Creativity, Collaboration, Responsive Listening, Access and Inclusion, and Accountability. Credentials and recognition include being identified as the nation’s largest community music school, joining the Berklee City Music® Network, and announcing four Minnesota musicians as 2026 McKnight Musician Fellows through the McKnight Fellowship for Musicians. Famous alumni named by MacPhail include Prince, Lawrence Welk, Gretchen Carlson, and Pete Docter.
Parent and adult testimonials include statements that a child comes home from every lesson smiling and motivated to practice with incredible progress, that a 71-year-old student learned everything they know about music at MacPhail, and that MacPhail has become much more than a music school and an important part of one family’s life for many years.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
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