The Washington Conservatory of Music (WCM) has been dedicated to fostering the joy of music and guiding students of all ages and skill levels to reach their personal musical potential for over 40 Years. WCM was established as an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit community music school in 1984. Incorporated in Washington, D.C., the school was first accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music Commission on Non-degree Granting Institutions in 1991. Our excellence is underscored by our having continuously retained national accreditation to date (now through the Accrediting Commission of Community and Pre-Collegiate Arts Schools [ACCPAS]) and the fact that WCM is one of only 17 such community arts schools in the United States.
WCM provides children, teens, and adults in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding metro area with the opportunity to study, without audition, under the guidance of WCM’s Fellowship of artist music teachers.
We offer:
Individual music lessons weekly on piano, guitar, voice, all strings, all brass, all woodwind instruments, jazz piano, improvisation, drums, percussion, conducting, and theory music classes weekly in guitar, voice, strings, early childhood music, traditional music, and more Music ensembles for classical, rock, pop, and jazz musicians summer music camps for children throughout the region.
In addition, WCM emphasizes service to underserved communities through the Tapestry Music Project (an El sistema inspired program), which offers weekly free early childhood music classes and instrumental music classes to children of low-income immigrants and families of color. To further serve our community, WCM sponsors monthly professional concerts with “give-what-you-can” admission hosted throughout at venues across DC and online reaching thousands annually.
Several events stand out as significant achievements for WCM, including presenting a concert in partnership with the Embassy of Brazil and attended by the Ambassador of Brazil, as the culmination of a year-long celebration of the centennial of independence for Brazil. The concert featured Brazilian cellist Antonio Meneses and guitarist Paul Galbraith and was held at Westmoreland Church. WCM is proud to have been invited to provide performances throughout the region including at the Residence of the Ambassador of Colombia in NW DC, featuring QuinTango.
In recent years WCM has welcomed the inauguration of the “Bach Room” Concert Series, a monthly series of concerts featuring the Pressenda Chamber Players, the WCM Ensemble in Residence, and guest artists throughout the region. A highlight of the concerts was a presentation by seven members of the WCM piano faculty who each performed solo works for piano on the showcase concert for the new WCM Steinway Concert Grand Piano–an instrument we acquired as the result of a major fundraising campaign.
2024 marks a new chapter of our history, new leadership, new vision WCM will have more presence and impact in the entire DMV through needed programming to creating a community that celebrates the love of music and increases access for all.