SPCM Statement on the Death of George Floyd

Amidst all of the suffering, grief, and rage our community is feeling, we want to extend to the Conservatory community love and the hope that you and your families are taking good care of yourselves. We are outraged at George Floyd’s murder, and stand in solidarity with his family and community.

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music acknowledges that systems of oppression affect many members of our community, and stands alongside all those who work to dismantle those systems. Today, we stand specifically against racism and violence toward the Black community, and other communities of people of color.

We believe that all students in our community deserve to live in a safe and enriching environment, and that systems of oppression and racism stand in the way of their full humanity and creative expression. 

Our motto, Music for All, affirms the power to create community through the universal language of music. We believe that music heals the soul, and hope that you can find solace in it in this painful moment.

June Newsletter →

Our June newsletter, most importantly, opens with the SPCM’s statement regarding the death of George Floyd. We’ve also opened registration for online summer lessons, shared a performance from our virtual Suzuki Group recital, and provided updates on summer events.

SPCM Launches New Registration System

Beginning with the coming summer semester, the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music is proud to launch a new lesson registration process.

We are always looking for ways to improve our musical education and increase the Conservatory's efficiency. Our new registration system does both: it ensures students are receiving adequate instruction each semester, and will simplify and speed-up the registration process.

There are two primary changes we are pleased to announce:

  1. Students will now purchase lesson packages instead of paying for single lessons. Lesson packages, available for 60-, 45-, or 30-minute lessons, will include a set number of lessons to be used during the semester. The specific number of lessons included in a semester's package will vary based on the semester length; in summer 2020, for example, packages are available for eight or four lessons over the course of the semester. (Specific lesson package details will be announced before each semester.) Add-on lessons are available with package purchase if a student wants more lessons than are included in the package.
    Current students will work with their teachers to identify the lesson package that is appropriate for this summer. Summer 2020 lesson packages can be viewed on our Lessons page. Teachers will inform SPCM staff what package each student is purchasing so that invoices can be prepared.

  2. The SPCM is transitioning to online registration and billing.
    When teachers notify the SPCM office of what package current students wish to purchase, each student or guardian will be emailed a Continuing Student Registration Form for the semester, and will then be invoiced for the purchase. Once invoiced, students or guardians can choose to make a one-time tuition payment or split payments into equal monthly recurring payments over the duration of the semester. Please note that students may not begin lessons until their first payment is received.

    This change will make invoicing and payments much more efficient, and allow students and families to manage their payment plan and payment methods online.

New students are encouraged to request a trial lesson to learn more about the SPCM and our teachers.

We are excited to make registration and payment easier and more efficient. Please take a look at our FAQs about this new system, and read our updated policies page, for more information. Of course, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email us or call us at 651-224-2205.

Six of Seven SPCO Youth Chamber Music Competition Winners from SPCM

Winners of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Youth Chamber Music Competition, sponsored by the Friends of the SPCO, were announced this week. The SPCM is thrilled to report that, of the seven winners, six were student ensembles of our Saint Paul Chamber Music Academy. The seven finalist groups were chosen by a jury of well-known, non-local chamber musicians through submitted videos. The competition is open to ensembles from Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Watch all the ensembles’ winning performances here.

The prize winners from the Saint Paul Chamber Music Academy are:

Senior Division (18 and under)
1st Place and Grand Prize: The Rivendell Piano Trio (Anastasia Lee, violin, Caelan Oxenham, cello, Clara Belle Wrolstad, piano)
3rd Place: Trio Luminoso (Emily Kleiber, violin, Andrea Wallick, cello, Joseph Caswell, piano)
Special Jury Award: Lubkowicz Quartet (Penelope Corbet, violin, Kana Aihara, violin, Corrie Bascom, viola, Caelan Oxenham, cello)

Junior Division (age 15 and under)
1st Place: Andromeda Quartet (Grace Wetzel, violin, Brooke Harms, violin, Eleanor Richards, viola, Dante Carlson, cello)
2nd Place (tie): Quartet Spiritoso (Vladimir Tsiper, violin, Blair Bartels, violin, Alexander Lenzmeier, viola, Marcus Chen, cello)
2nd Place (tie): Kanoma Piano Trio (Noelle Anderson, violin, Karina Anderson, cello, Madeleine Klevay, piano)

All SPCMA ensembles were coached by Academy Director Tom Rosenberg.

Conservatory Launches "Sounds of the SPCM" Project

The Saint Paul Conservatory of Music is launching a social media project to provide a virtual stage for our students and faculty to share music with the greater community. We miss hearing our students’ music in our studios and on our stage during the coronavirus pandemic, but we hope to inspire music-makers to continue creating and to connect with our community during this time of isolation.

GUIDELINES AND SUBMISSION

  • Students and faculty should create a video recording of no more than 2.5 minutes in length.

  • The video should include an introduction including your name, age, and instructor (if applicable), and an excerpt of a piece of the performer’s choice.

  • Videos should be submitted in MP4 (Google Phone/Android) or MOV format (iPhone/iPad) to Kiley Hazelton.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING
Videos will be released weekly in the order they are received on the SPCM’s YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram accounts. Instagram videos will be shortened to one minute in length but will provide a link to the full-length video.

PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT
Performers under the age of 18 need consent from a parent or guardian to submit. Written consent acknowledging agreement with all of the information above must be included in the video submission email.

We look forward to hearing the beautiful music that our community is making!