Alice S. Pfaelzer (far left) and Emma Endres Kountz.

Merit first opened its doors in borrowed space at Roosevelt University, establishing its most selective program, the Tuition-free Conservatory. In its first year, hundreds of aspiring young musicians of all backgrounds came to audition for the 162 openings available at the Conservatory. Two years later, in 1981, Merit moved to a larger space in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building, where it stayed through 1987.

In 1984, Merit responded to requests from Chicago Public Schools to create an in-school music education program. Merit introduced Bridges: Partners in Music (formerly Project BEGIN), a community outreach effort offering school-based music instruction.

In order to keep pace with the School’s growing enrollment, in 1987 Merit moved to a new home in Dearborn Station. Located in the heart of Printer’s Row, Dearborn Station was able to provide 7,500 square feet of basement classroom and office space for Merit’s growing contingent of students, faculty and staff, including room for a small recital hall.

Merit continued to grow. In 1990, Merit instituted the Regenstein Windows Program (formerly the Windows Scholarship Program), to provide children living in Chicago’s public housing communities with instruments, full scholarships to Merit programs, transportation to and from classes, and mentoring opportunities. Shortly thereafter, in 1995, Merit introduced its Preparatory Program, designed to train Bridges students for entrance into the Tuition-free Conservatory.

As the demand for Merit’s programs continued to increase, the restrictions created by limited space became ever more apparent. In 1997 and 1998, with support from hundreds of donors, Merit was able to raise nearly $3 million to add and refurbish an additional 8,000 square feet at Dearborn Station.

Merit began its Early Childhood Program in 1999 in an effort to serve more family needs, and in 2000, Merit introduced Dynamic Starts, beginning group instruction for families who lacked access to its Bridges program and could not afford the high cost of private music instruction.

In June 2005, Merit moved into the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, a state-of-the-art facility in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood that more than doubled the School’s instructional space, allowing generous space for current programs and for future growth. In addition to more classrooms and larger rehearsal halls, the new building features a recording studio, Clavinova piano lab, music library, a dedicated instrument storage room, and an impressive, 372-seat concert hall.

Today Merit’s programs annually reach over 6,500 students of all ages and abilities at nearly 70 sites throughout Chicago.

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Alice S. Pfaelzer

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