The Chicago School of Folk Music

The Chicago School of Folk Music is one of the most respected music schools in the country. With a long history of producing some of the most talented musicians, the school offers a wide range of programs to suit any musician’s needs.

What is the Chicago School of Folk Music?

The Chicago School of Folk Music is a performance-based educational institution located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1963 by Frank and Vivian Hanighen with the help of Martin Ganschow, Elaine Purkis, B.A. Sommerville, and Harold Shaw. The school’s mission is to promote and preserve the traditional music of the American people through performance, education, research, and publication.

The school offers both degree and non-degree programs. The degree program offers a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Folk Music Performance and a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Folk Music Studies. The non-degree program offers classes and workshops for both beginning and experienced musicians.

The Chicago School of Folk Music is a member of the Association for Cultural Equity (ACE) and the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

History of the Chicago School of Folk Music

The Chicago School of Folk Music was founded in 1963 by a group of folk music enthusiasts. The original founders were Richard D. Recchia, Henry Vars, George Mitchell, and Robert Shelton. The school was created in response to the lack of formal training in folk music at the time.

The school offered classes in folk instruments, songwriting, and music history. It also held concerts and events featuring folk musicians from around the world. In its early years, the school was closely associated with the influential Folklore Center in New York City.

In the 1970s, the school began to expand its curriculum to include other genres of music, such as jazz and blues. It also started to offer more classes on traditional music from other cultures. Today, the school is known for its diverse range of offerings, which include everything from Balkan brass band workshops to DJing classes.

The Chicago School of Folk Music Today

The Chicago School of Folk Music is a 501(c)(3) non-profit music school located in the Chicago, Illinois neighborhood of Lincoln Park. We offer classes and workshops for all ages in a variety of musical genres including but not limited to: old time, bluegrass, blues, country, Celtic, rock & roll, singer-songwriter, and world music. In addition to our teaching program, we also present live music concerts and events throughout the year.

The mission of the Chicago School of Folk Music is to nurture the next generation of musicians and music lovers by providing excellent and affordable music instruction in a supportive community. We strive to make our classes accessible to everyone regardless of their financial situation. In addition to traditional tuition methods, we offer need-based scholarships and work-study opportunities.

The Chicago School of Folk Music is supported by generous grants from The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Sarah / George Soros Foundations Network’s siblings Advancing Folk Art Charitable Fund , as well as individual donations from members of our community.

The Future of the Chicago School of Folk Music

The future of the Chicago School of Folk Music is unclear. The school has been hemorrhaging money for years, and its founders have been trying to sell it for nearly as long. Its current owners, the city of Chicago, have been seeking to sell the school for $1 since 2017, but no buyer has come forward.

The school has been struggling to stay afloat due to a number of factors, including declining enrollment, financial mismanagement, and competition from other music schools. In recent years, the school has been forced to lay off staff and make cuts to its programming. It is unclear how much longer the school can continue to operate in its current state.

The Chicago School of Folk Music was founded in 1963 by a group of folk musicians who wanted to create a place where people could learn about and experience folk music. The school has since become one of the most respected folk music institutions in the country. It is home to a world-renowned music festival, and its alumni include some of the most famous folk musicians in history.