Immaculata University has a long-standing commitment to music education, with a history rooted in training music educators, performers and music therapists. Building on this tradition, the University launched the Immaculata University Community Music School this fall, a program designed to provide high-quality music instruction and performance opportunities for individuals of all ages and abilities in the surrounding counties and beyond.
At the heart of this new initiative is a simple idea: music should be for everyone. The music school welcomes students, young and old, beginners and experienced musicians alike, learning from expert faculty, as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Thanks to Immaculata’s status as an All-Steinway School, every student has the opportunity to learn on Steinway concert grand pianos and numerous Steinway-made practice pianos.
Immaculata University has already established strong ties within the local community, including collaborations with the Immaculata Symphony, which partners with the Chester County Youth Orchestra. The Concert Band has a partnership with the West Chester Community Band, and Immaculata University also hosts the annual High School Honors Band and Chorus Festival. Additionally, the creation of the Immaculata Clarinet Choir, offering local clarinetists opportunities to come together and perform, further strengthens its commitment to fostering musical connections and opportunities in the region.
Joseph Gehring ’25 Ed.D., chair of the music department and director of ensembles, sees the music school as a way to broaden access to something truly meaningful.
“Immaculata’s music department continues to embrace each of the University’s core values, especially that of ‘Community.’ With several community connections already in place, the new Immaculata University Community Music School continues an important outreach to musicians of all ages and abilities.”
The Immaculata University Community Music School has big plans for its future. In addition to private lessons, the program plans to one day expand to offer group instruction in areas like piano, ukulele, music theory and history, and music technology, with a Suzuki Institutefor young learners also in the works. The Suzuki Institute will offer youth masterclasses, small and large ensembles and summer camps where students have plenty of opportunities to perform, with recitals and showcases that allow them to share their progress and passion for music.
As Immaculata continues to grow, so do the opportunities for both students and the broader community, and the launch of the Immaculata University Community Music School marks an exciting new chapter in the University’s history of music education. The music school isn’t just about mastering an instrument—it’s about building confidence, fostering community and enriching lives through the transformative power of music.
For more details about the Immaculata University Community Music School please visit the website.
