Year-End Appeal

The past year has been full of significant accomplishments and growth for the Irish Music School of Chicago. As we reflect back on 2011, we would like to take a moment to say thank you to all who participated in the School's success this year. We are extremely grateful for the students, parents, donors, volunteers and friends who are helping the School become the preeminent Irish music school in the country.

Our music program continues to grow, with a burgeoning singing program, a strong concertina program and a variety of ensemble and group classes. We were delighted to showcase our students at the first-ever IMSC recital this summer at Chief O'Neill's Pub! Thanks to all who participated and a special thank you to Brendan and Siobhan McKinney for their unwavering support of the School.

The School continues to foster Irish music in Chicago through its year-long series of workshops and concerts. The master classes and concerts, a fundamental component of the School's teaching philosophy, expose students to the best of traditional Irish music and allow students access to some of the finest musicians playing today. The teaching philosophy of the School has always been deeply rooted in the belief that this music must be experienced in a variety of ways in order to be truly learned. Classes provide the structure for learning technique and repertoire, but actively participating in sessions and special workshops allow students to take their music to another level. The School is a leader in providing this multi-faceted approach to teaching Irish music.

A perfect example of this approach to teaching is the summer camp the School hosted this year. For one week, students worked in small group classes with members of Teada, a world-famous traditional Irish band. In addition to instrument-specific classes, students learned Irish language, sean nos dance (old-style traditional Irish dance), and Irish singing. Summer Camp students performed as part of the sell-out Teada concert at the end of the week, which proved to be the highlight of the show!

With a focus on cultivating a new generation of Irish musicians who learn from playing music alongside leading musicians and local legends, the Irish Music School of Chicago provides a depth of musical scholarship and training unmatched in the country. We cannot do this work without the support we receive throughout the year. Please consider a tax-deductible contribution to the Irish Music School of Chicago this holiday season. Your support, in any amount, will allow the School to continue training the next generation of Irish musicians in Chicago. Thank you for your continued support of our mission!

To make a donation by PayPal, please click the Make a Donation button on the lefthand side of the page. To mail in a donation, please make checks payable to the Irish Music School of Chicago and mail to 5978 N. Lincoln, 5A, Chicago, IL 60659.

The Irish Music School of Chicago is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation registered in the State of Illinois. All contributions are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.