Parlando School of Musical Arts

Name

Parlando School of Musical Arts

Legal name

Parlando School of Musical Arts

Website

https://parlando.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education Services

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Educational Services (611), Musical Groups and Artists (71113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Early Childhood Music Education (Ages 0–7) (EDAMANAD), Performing Arts Programs (Band, Choir, Orchestra, Theater) (EDAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Music education services
• Private music lessons
• Musical theater programs
• Community outreach programs
• Tuition assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and lesson fees: Semester-based tuition for private lessons (30, 45, or 60 minute sessions), group classes, and musical theater programs. Tuition ranges from $738-$1584 per semester for private lessons depending on lesson length. Summer packages available as 7-pack or 10-pack lessons.
2. Donations and charitable contributions: Individual donations supporting tuition assistance, outreach programming, and general operations. 100% of donations go directly to programming per stated nonprofit structure.
3. Theater sponsorship: Season sponsorships ($1750-3000), production sponsorships ($1000), and individual performance sponsorships ($400) for theatrical productions.
4. Grant funding: Funding from foundations including Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Boulder Arts Commission, Broomfield Community Foundation, Cielo Foundation, Bacca Foundation, Caruthers Family Foundation, and Ritter Family Foundation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Parlando School of Musical Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit music education organization delivering one-on-one private lessons, group classes, chamber music ensembles, musical theater productions, and inclusive outreach programming for all instruments, ages, and abilities. Lessons are delivered in-person at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder, online via video, and in students' homes. The organization also operates community programs such as M.O.R.E. for Colorado (school-based outreach), Julie's Program (neurodiverse-inclusive programming), and the Commissioned Composers Project.

Product overview

Parlando School of Musical Arts is Colorado's largest stand-alone music education nonprofit, offering a comprehensive portfolio of music and performing arts programs. The core offerings include Private Lessons (one-on-one instruction for all instruments in-person or online), Group Classes and Camps, Musical Theatre Productions, Chamber Music ensembles, the Commissioned Composers Project, and New Musical Project festival. Specialized programs include Julie's Program (inclusive programming for neurodiverse individuals), M.O.R.E. for Colorado (school outreach), Adult Music Lessons, and Guest Artist masterclasses. Entry-level offerings include free trial lessons and discounted intro/starter packages. The organization also hosts the annual Parlando Open tennis tournament as a fundraising event. All programs are supported by a tuition assistance initiative projected to provide $1 million in aid by 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• M.O.R.E. for Colorado: Music Outreach providing Resources and Education - supplementary instrument instruction to school music classrooms throughout Colorado
• Julie's Program
• Parlando Open
• Commissioned Composers Project
• New Musical Project
• Parlando Wind Ensemble
• Parlando Choir: Cantanti Coro

Products and services

• Private Lessons One-on-one music instruction for all instruments (piano, guitar, violin, voice, woodwinds, brass, percussion) available in 30, 45, or 60-minute sessions, offered in-person at the Dairy Arts Center or online.
• Group Classes and Camps Collaborative music learning experiences including Oboe Camp, Brass Boot Camp, and seasonal camps for students of all ages and instruments.
• Musical Theatre Programs Full-scale theatrical productions including SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical, Willy Wonka JR., Hadestown: Teen Edition, Matilda JR., 101 Dalmatians KIDS, and the commissioned musical Every Color.
• Chamber Music Small ensemble groups including Chamber Music Groups, Parlando Wind Ensemble, and Adult Chamber Music Groups available to all registered students at no additional cost.
• Commissioned Composers Project Annual program connecting students to the full artistic process from composition to debut performance, commissioning new works from diverse composers performed by students.
• New Musical Project Summer festival mounting showcase segments from three brand new musicals utilizing pre-professional and community actors with professional directing team, crew, and live band.
• Guest Artists Program Masterclasses and workshops led by accomplished guest artists including Josh Andrés Rivera, Kessa Mefford, and Nnenna Ogwo for student enrichment.
• Julie's Program Inclusive music and theatrical programming for people with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and neurodiversities, providing accessible and engaging programming in partnership with community organizations.
• Adult Music Lessons Music instruction designed for adult learners including private lessons, Parlando Choir (adult and high school students), and social events such as adult-specific recitals and happy hours.
• M.O.R.E. for Colorado Music Outreach providing Resources and Education program providing supplementary instrument instruction to school music classrooms, focusing on Title 1 and low-income schools.

Quantifiable outcome

• Partner schools report 20% higher attendance rates, 24% higher graduation rates, and GPAs of 3.0-3.5 compared to 2.0-3.0 for non-music students

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Boulder Piano GallerycoreOthersPreferred vendor providing pianos to students and hosting student recitals. Paul Jarvis and staff help students and families find pianos meeting developmental, spatial, and financial needs.
• FRIENDS of BroomfieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Julie's Program, providing music classes to adults with disabilities and sensory integration difficulties.
• Community LinkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Julie's Program serving people with disabilities and neurodiversities.
• IMAGINE ColoradocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for inclusive programming for people with disabilities and neurodiversities.
• Temple Grandin SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting neurodiverse community members through music and the arts.
• Jennifer Stuckey, JenStuckeyHomeflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner2026 Theatre Season Sponsor. Real estate agent and long-time Parlando parent who donates portion of proceeds to support outreach programs.
• Love Ice CreamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Willy Wonka JR. theatrical production.
• Camp Bow WowminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for 101 Dalmatians theatrical production.
• Broomfield Swim & Tennis ClubcoreOthersMatch Point Sponsor for Parlando Open. Venue partner for tennis tournament.
• The Ranch Country ClubcoreOthersMatch Point Sponsor for Parlando Open. Venue partner for tennis tournament.
• Boulder Day NurserycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergenerational programming partner for early childhood centers.
• Boulder Housing PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergenerational programming partner.
• Mother HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergenerational programming partner.
• Parkinson Association of the RockiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntergenerational programming partner providing music for Parkinson's patients.
• Liquid Mechanics BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• 4 Noses BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• River North BreweryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• Wanderment BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• Woods Boss Brewing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• New Image BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLove Sponsor for Parlando Open tennis tournament.
• TruuBlueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCenter Court Sponsor and beverage cup sponsor for Parlando Open.
• Eng OrthodonticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCenter Court Sponsor for Parlando Open.
• Foothills EndodonticsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCenter Court Sponsor for Parlando Open.
• Kevin Snyder PhotographyminorOthersPreferred vendor capturing theater photography at Parlando events.
• Gelato BoyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for annual Merit Competition.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Old Town School of Folk Music: Long-standing community music school in Chicago offering private lessons, group classes, and performance programming across instruments and ages. Highly comparable as a nonprofit community music school with multi-modal delivery and similar tuition/financial-aid model.
• Settlement Music School: Philadelphia-based nonprofit community music school providing lessons across instruments and ages, with a longstanding tuition assistance mission. Directly comparable operating model and mission emphasis on accessibility.
• Community Music Center: San Francisco nonprofit offering private and group music instruction with a financial-aid and outreach mission across all ages. Closely mirrors Parlando's blend of tuition-based lessons, donor-supported scholarships, and community programming.
• Levine Music: DC-area nonprofit music school offering private lessons, ensembles, and early childhood programming with financial aid. Comparable structure of tuition + scholarship model with multi-site delivery and community partnerships.
• Brooklyn Music School: Brooklyn-based nonprofit providing music and performing arts education across instruments and ages, with tuition assistance and community programming. Similar operating model and mission-driven nonprofit status.
• Peoples Music School: Chicago nonprofit providing free and low-cost music education to youth with limited access. Closely comparable accessibility mission, though more tuition-free than Parlando's tuition-assistance model.

Broad incumbents

• Music Academy of the West: Santa Barbara-based music education nonprofit with broader programmatic scope including festivals and pre-professional training. Comparable as an established nonprofit music school, though at a larger and more prestigious scale.
• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Michigan-based nonprofit arts education institution offering intensive music instruction across instruments and ages, including summer programs. Comparable mission and nonprofit structure at significantly larger scale.

Emerging players

• Lang Lang International Music Foundation: Nonprofit foundation funding music education access and partnering with schools. Comparable accessibility mission and school-outreach programming, but operates primarily as a grantmaking/partner rather than direct lesson provider.
• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: Nonprofit supporting music education in schools through instrument donations and program grants. Comparable mission of expanding music education access in underserved schools, though focuses on instrument access rather than direct instruction.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/parlando-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Parlando School of Musical Arts