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Community Music

A group of children stands around their music teacher, holding their violins in front of a stage.

Community Music Academy

The North Park University Community Music Academy specializes in high-quality, literacy-based music education for students ages 5–18 in Albany Park and the surrounding communities. Music fosters community, out-of-the-box thinking, and problem-solving, offering students and the broader community a profound aesthetic experience.

Instruction is based on the methods and philosophies of Shinichi Suzuki and Paul Rolland, as well as traditional teaching methods, and includes solo performance opportunities and an introduction to music theory.

Group violin and cello lessons

Enrolled students participate in Saturday group violin and cello lessons. Families are invited to attend a demo day on the last day of each term

Classes occur at North Park University’s Hanson Hall, 5159 North Spaulding Avenue. View the campus map for directions.

Register

 

The following are the 2026–27 semester schedules, excluding holidays.

  • Fall term: September 19–November 21, 2026
  • Winter term: January 9–March 13, 2027
  • Spring term: April 3–June 12, 2027

Classes are held on Saturday mornings and are available for beginners and all levels of experience.

  • $25 one-time, nonrefundable registration fee per family
  • $300 tuition per term
  • Optional fees
    • $225 violin rental for three terms
    • $450 cello rental for three terms
    • If families do not use this rental option, they must provide a size-appropriate instrument and ensure it is properly maintained. Renting is best for growing children up to and including a high school playing level.

Parents are critical in the early years of study; they attend all lessons and support daily practice. Students should practice at least five times per week between classes.

 

Community Ensembles

Our Community Ensembles bring together North Park students, alumni, amateur musicians, and members of the wider Chicago community in a collaborative, welcoming experience. The ensembles create opportunities for lifelong music-making through weekly rehearsals and occasional performances.

The fee is $95 per semester (fall or spring) and will be collected on the first day of rehearsals. Community ensembles are free for NPU employees.

The Concert Band begins mid-semester in the fall of 2026. The fee will be prorated to $50.

Orchestra (18+)

Open to string musicians of various levels. Rehearsals take place on Thursdays from 4:20–6:10 p.m. in Hanson Hall, 5159 North Spaulding Avenue. View the campus map for directions.

Fall classes: August 27–December 3, 2026 (No class on Thursday, November 26)
Spring classes: January 14–April 30, 2027

Register

Community Band (18+)

Open to winds, brass, and percussion musicians of various experience levels. Rehearsals take place in Hamming Hall, 3215 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60625. View the campus map for directions.

*Fall classes: Sep–December 3, 2026 (No class on Thursday, November 26)
Spring classes: January 14–April 30, 2027

*The fall semester for Concert Band will be prorated to $50 due to the mid-year start.

Register

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Director of Community Music Academy

Jennifer Dunne

Instructor Jennifer Dunne’s expertise in music education enables students to develop concentration skills, build self-esteem, and experience joy in music. She has guided the string education of hundreds of aspiring musicians in violin, viola, chamber music, and string pedagogy.
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Director of Community Orchestra

Tom Zelle

Dr. Tom Zelle serves as the music director and conductor of the North Park University Orchestra as well as a choral conductor, clinician, church musician, and educator. Under his direction, the orchestra studies and performs orchestral literature from the Baroque era to the present, and periodically collaborates with vocalists and other ensembles.
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Portrait of a man smiling in front of a musical group, holding a trumpet.

Director of Concert Band

Joe Lill

Dr. Joseph Lill is a professional trumpet player who conducts the Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band and supervises the instrumental music education program. He performs across jazz, classical, and popular genres, and has led the band Six of One since 1979. He’s also performed with the Ravinia Festival Orchestra, the New Philharmonic, and the Elgin Symphony.

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A portrait of a man smiling in front of the chicago skyline holding a cello.

Cello Instructor

Francisco Malespin

Francisco Malespin is a cellist and dedicated educator whose musical journey began in his native Brazil. In addition to performing, Malespin is a dedicated teacher. He maintains a private cello studio, where he provides personalized, student-centered instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds.
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Contact

info.cma@northpark.edu

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