Pasadena Conservatory of Music

The Pasadena Conservatory of Music (PCM) is a distinguished community music school located in Pasadena, California. Founded on December 31, 1983, by music educators Wynne Stone and Silke Sauppé, PCM has established itself as a nonprofit, nationally-accredited institution dedicated to the promotion and education of music in the community. The conservatory was born out of Stone and Sauppé's desire to create a local music school to avoid the long commute to the Claremont Community School of Music, where they had been teaching Suzuki piano. The concept of PCM was initially planned around the Sauppés' dining room table, with the support of their spouses, Norman Sauppé and Rocky Stone. Their vision was to create a school that would require not only vision and energy but also significant grassroots efforts. The founders' hard work included securing a location at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, where Silke Sauppé served as the organist, and conducting neighborhood outreach to ensure community support. Early marketing efforts included distributing flyers created on Norman Sauppé's home computer to local schools, libraries, and music stores. PCM officially opened its doors on January 3, 1984, with a starting roster of forty students and a faculty of nine. The school quickly gained a reputation for excellence, attracting notable figures in the music world, including the Schnabel Piano Duo, composer Ernst Krenek, and the eccentric conductor Nicolas Slonimsky, who famously entertained students by playing the piano while lying on the floor. By the end of its first year, PCM had grown to serve 150 students and tripled its faculty size. The conservatory experienced a period of rapid growth and innovation in its early years, leading to the need for a larger space. In 1991, PCM moved to Atchison Street behind Westminster Presbyterian Church. Eventually, the school settled into its current location on Hill Avenue, where it continues to flourish, now serving over 1,200 students annually with a faculty of more than 60 music teachers. PCM's comprehensive curriculum includes a variety of music programs organized into 12 departments, catering to both young musicians and adult learners. These departments cover disciplines such as Chamber Music, Guitar, Jazz, Piano, Strings, Theory, History, and Composition, Vocal Arts, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion, and World Music. The conservatory's programs are designed to educate, advocate, inspire, and share the joy of music through performance and study. The Pasadena Conservatory of Music is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools and is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music. It is also a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and the Pasadena Arts Council. PCM's commitment to community engagement is evident through its vibrant outreach programs, master classes, guest-artist recitals, and concerts, which enrich the cultural fabric of Pasadena and its surrounding areas. PCM's leadership and governance include advisory and emeritus boards, which play a crucial role in supporting the school's strategic goals and acting as ambassadors for the institution. The conservatory also publishes annual reports and financial statements, maintaining transparency and accountability in its operations. The Pasadena Conservatory of Music stands as a beacon of musical education and performance in the Pasadena community, upholding its mission to educate, advocate, inspire, and share through the universal language of music.