Merit School of Music

09/25/2026

🧟 Ready, set, ghoul! 👻 Get your tickets to our FREE Trick or Tunes Sensory & Family-Friendly Concerts today! 🎟️ Come hear Merit's Wind Symphony perform some of your favorite Halloween favorites.

At this fun, sensory-friendly concert, the audience is invited to dance to the music, make noise, take breaks, clap along, use sensory supports like headphones or fidgets, and enjoy the music however feels best to you. Costumes are welcome and goodie bags will be provided! 🎃

📅 10/24
🕥 10:30am
📍38 S Peoria St

Reserve your spot ⏩ https://hubs.la/Q04ygqL50

09/24/2026

Before welcoming students back for a new school year, more than 80 Merit faculty and staff gathered for the annual fall faculty meeting. The day included celebrations of major faculty milestones, peer-led professional development sessions, and opportunities for the teachers to learn from one another and strengthen their connections.

Read how Merit's community of educators drew on one another’s expertise, built new connections, and set the stage for a successful school year! https://hubs.ly/Q04ygkjF0

09/23/2026

A few of our favorite moments from Around the World in 88 Keys, our annual piano concert highlighting composers from underrepresented backgrounds and from all around the globe. Twenty-four piano students performing original compositions and traditional folk songs representing Mexico, Japan, Korea, China, the USA, Malaysia, Spain, Canada, and Ireland.

09/23/2026

🎺🎻 We still have a few spots left for our FREE Instrument Exploration workshop this Saturday - sign up today! https://app.amilia.com/store/en/merit-school-of-music/shop/activities/7282873

We're hosting a FREE ✨ Instrument Exploration Workshop on Saturday, September 26! ✨ Kids age 5+ will have the opportunity to try out different instruments with the guidance of our faculty and current students. Reserve your spot now at https://hubs.la/Q04x89hX0

📆 Saturday, September 26
🕚 10 - 11am
📍38 S Peoria St.

09/22/2026

Fall is in the air 🍂 and a new school year at Merit has begun! Read a few words of welcome from Merit's Dean and Vice President for Educational Affairs Kurt Gildow to learn about some of the new and exciting things Merit has in store this year. https://hubs.la/Q04y3c_F0

09/21/2026

What a fantastic article about Merit alum Julián Pujols Quall! You may have seen Julián perform with their band Mamey at last year's Play On benefit concert. Read all about their work as a "composer, improviser, interpreter, pianist" at https://soundologia.com/articles/julian-pujols-quall ❤🎶

New Featured Story: Julián Pujols Quall

Composer, pianist, and improviser Julián Pujols Quall (Julián Pujols Quall ) moves between classical training, collective improvisation, experimental composition, language, theater, and intercultural collaboration.

The story also features collaborations with Lorin Benedict (Lorin Benedict ), Qiujiang Levi Lu (qiujiang levi lu 卢秋江 ), Sabrina Alsaffar, BAKUDI SCREAM (𝕭𝕬𝕶𝖀𝕯𝕴 𝕾𝕮𝕽𝕰𝕬𝕸 || rohan chander ), Florian Nastorg, and others, while looking at Julián’s relationship to Chicago’s experimental music community.

Read the full story at soundologia.com

Pedja Kovacevic

 
 
 


09/21/2026

The Alice S. Pfaelzer Conservatory is back for another school year of rehearsals, performances, guest artists, workshops, friendships and so much more. Take a look at our first Conservatory Saturday of the year and hear from a few of our students about what they're most excited about looking forward!

09/18/2026

Join Merit School of Music for a special fall-inspired Musical Storytime at our branch in Old Town! 🍂

Merit’s talented team of performing artists will engage your little ones and promote early literacy development with a unique blend of music, movement, and fun.

📆 Saturday 10/3
🕙 10-10:45am
📍 Amphitheater outside Church of the Three Crosses (333 W Wisconsin St)

RSVP for a goodie bag! https://hubs.la/Q04x7Y2B0

09/15/2026

Two Merit piano students recently had the incredible opportunity to play for world-renowned pianist Olga Kern at a masterclass at the Steinway Gallery. 🎹 Alex Langlois (student of Dr. Elena Doubovitskaya) performed Robert Schumann's "Aufschwung" from Op. 12, and Miley Hu (student of Dr. Seungwha Baek) played Frederic Chopin's Etude Op. 25 no. 11.

Masterclasses like this are invaluable experiences for young musicians, providing them with personalized, real-time feedback for improvement while inspiring them. We're so grateful to Ms. Kern for sharing her time and expertise with our students!

09/11/2026

Merit's 2026-2027 school year is almost here! Take a look at our fall building hours starting Saturday, September 12.