The Musical Offering

What The Musical Offering does

The Musical Offering is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community music school founded in 1999 by Kirsten Hedegaard and Rick Ferguson, headquartered at 743 Custer Avenue in south Evanston, Illinois — a location the founders identified as previously underserved for music education. The school delivers private one-on-one lessons (piano, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, and brass) and group classes (MOrchestra ensemble, Plugged In & Live rock/jazz/blues bands, Cello Ensemble, Adult Group Guitar), plus summer musical theatre programming, the MO Show student-written production (14 years running at Devonshire Theatre), the IYWCC composition competition (now international), and a new MO Show: In Concert! works competition. Faculty are described as highly trained active performers with ties to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera, Chicago Philharmonic, and Elgin Symphony, and many instructors have tenures exceeding 10 years. Operational technology is limited to standard SaaS administrative tooling: ASAP Connected for registration and scheduling, and Neon CRM for donations. No digital products, apps, or APIs are offered.

The school monetizes through tiered tuition for private lessons ($43–$94 per 30/45/60-minute lesson depending on faculty tier), session-based ensemble fees ($240–$425 per term), summer program fees ($200–$225), and a diversified fundraising base comprising individual donations, tax-deductible giving (one-time, recurring, and in-kind), and grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Dr. Scholl Foundation (IYWCC sponsor), Evanston Arts Council, Romano Family Foundation, and Foundation 65. Distribution is exclusively direct and in-person at the Evanston facility, with select outreach delivered at Title One school partners (Washington, Oakton, Dawes, Lincoln Elementary, Chute Middle School) and through the EPAC consortium with Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. Customer segments span children and youth (primary), adult learners, young women composers, high-school musical theatre students, and Title One school students; an Evanston Mayor's Award for the Arts (2007) and a GuideStar Gold Seal of Transparency (2018) anchor its reputational profile. The organization is governed by a board and operates without a parent company, subsidiaries, or external funding rounds.

Name

The Musical Offering

Legal name

The Musical Offering

Website

https://themusicaloffering.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Musical Offering is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community music school in Evanston, IL, founded in 1999. It offers private lessons, ensembles, summer theatre, and student-written competitions (MO Show, IYWCC) to children, adults, and Title One school partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Performance Coaching & Competition Preparation (Auditions, Recitals) (EDAMANAL), Songwriting, Composition & Arranging (EDAMANAG)

Keywords

• Community music school
• Private music lessons
• Group music classes
• Music education services
• Ensemble performance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Evanston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Private Lessons: Tiered pricing for private music instruction based on teacher experience level (Tier 1 vs Tier 2) and lesson duration (30, 45, or 60 minutes). Recurring session-based billing.
2. Group Classes: Ensemble and group instruction including MOrchestra, Cello Ensemble, Plugged In & Live (rock/blues/jazz bands), and group guitar. Charged per session/term.
3. Summer Programs: Summer Musical Theater programming including Music Stars Camp ($225) and High School Classes ($200) during summer sessions.
4. Donations: Individual donor contributions as a fundamental revenue source for the nonprofit. Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donations accepted online or by mail. Guidestar Gold Seal of Transparency recipient.
5. Competitions: International Young Women's Composition Competition (IYWCC) with prize money funded by Dr. Scholl Foundation and other sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Musical Offering is a nonprofit community music school that delivers in-person music instruction and performance programming for all ages. Its core offerings include private one-on-one lessons (piano, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, brass), group ensemble classes (MOrchestra, Plugged In & Live bands, Cello Ensemble, Adult Group Guitar), summer musical theater camps, and signature competitions such as the International Young Women's Composition Competition (IYWCC) and the MO Show. All instruction is delivered through the school's Evanston facility and partner school residencies.

Product overview

The Musical Offering is a nonprofit community music school offering a comprehensive portfolio of music education products and programs. The core offering includes Private Lessons (one-on-one instruction across piano, guitar, voice, strings, woodwinds, and brass) and Group Classes (MOrchestra, Plugged In & Live ensemble programs, Cello Ensemble, and Adult Group Guitar). Seasonal and special programs include the Summer Musical Theater Program with Music Stars Camp and high school production classes, the MO Show: In Concert! new works competition for high schoolers, and the International Young Women's Composition Competition (IYWCC). Additional offerings include performance opportunities, scholarship programs, and a donation program. The organization operates from its Evanston, IL facility and partners with the Royal Conservatory of Music for certificate programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MO Show: In Concert!: A New Works Competition for High School Writers, Composers, and Musicians for original theatrical and musical works.
• IYWCC (International Young Women's Composition Competition)
• Plugged In & Live
• MOrchestra
• Music on Madison
• Music Stars Summer Camp
• Junior MO Show
• Cello Ensemble
• Adult Group Guitar

Products and services

• Private Lessons One-on-one music instruction for students of all ages and skill levels across piano, guitar, voice, strings, and woodwinds/brass, with tiered pricing based on teacher experience (Tier 1 vs Tier 2) and lesson duration (30, 45, or 60 minutes).
• Plugged In & Live Group ensemble program offering rock, jazz, and blues band experiences for both adults and students, led by Tim O'Donnell.
• MOrchestra Large-group orchestral ensemble program with two levels (Level 1 for ages 7-12 with 1+ years experience; Level 2 for ages 11-17 with 3+ years experience and audition), offered in fall and spring sessions for strings, piano, recorder, and flute.
• Cello Ensemble Chamber music program through cello ensemble playing for adults at advanced and intermediate levels, taught by Veronica Nettles-Kolegas.
• Adult Group Guitar Relaxed group guitar instruction for adults focusing on fundamentals, chords, scales, techniques, and repertoire building, taught by Casey Nielsen.
• Summer Musical Theater Program Comprehensive summer musical theater program including Music Stars Camp for ages 9-13 and High School Classes covering Script Writing, Vocal Writing & Lyricism, Orchestration & Arranging, and Collaboration & Direction.
• MO Show: In Concert! New works competition for high school writers, composers, and musicians in grades 8-12, with original theatrical and musical works performed at a culminating concert.
• International Young Women's Composition Competition (IYWCC) Annual international composition competition for young women ages 12-18 with submissions in violin, viola, and cello trio format, sponsored by the Dr. Scholl Foundation.
• Performances & Events Concert series featuring student performances, faculty recitals, Music on Madison concerts, and special events including the annual MO Show and Women's Composers Series.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than double the amount of scholarships awarded in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Evanston Performing Arts Collective (EPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium with Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre and Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre with mission of 'Celebrating Life, Community and the Arts.' The Musical Offering is one of three founding member organizations presenting virtual and live outdoor performances.
• Evanston Children's ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Musical Offering hosts 'Story Choir' rehearsals and performances for the Evanston Children's Choir at its facility.
• Illinois Arts CouncilminorOthersPartial grant support for The Musical Offering's programs. The organization is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with this public arts funding as a supporting revenue stream.
• Y.O.U. (Youth Opportunity Unlimited)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership starting fall 2018 to offer music programming to Y.O.U. students. MO voice instructor provides weekly lessons to a choir of about a dozen students as part of their after-school program.
• Devonshire Cultural CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for MO Show: In Concert! performance in January 2027. Located in Skokie, IL.
• Skokie Park DistrictminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsoring partner for MO Show: In Concert! competition and performance.
• Washington Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three local elementary schools receiving student composition workshops and music programming from The Musical Offering.
• Oakton Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal elementary school receiving music programming. Oakton was identified as struggling to provide musical instruction to its students, making it a key partner for MO's mission.
• Dawes Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three local elementary schools receiving student composition workshops from The Musical Offering.
• Lincoln Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year music residency conducted in 2012-13 as part of MO's school partnership program.
• Chute Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Foundation 65 grant for multimedia musical performances on themes of dystopia (2017) and economic equity. Ferguson created compositions for orchestra and chorus.
• Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial partner school in the Royal Conservatory Certificate Program, providing nationally recognized standards for musical success through a sequenced course of study.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Community Music Center of San Francisco: San Francisco nonprofit offering private and group instruction across instruments and voice with sliding-scale tuition and ensembles. Comparable community-music-school model, scholarship-driven access, and youth/adult lesson mix.
• Merit School of Music: Chicago nonprofit providing tuition-free and low-cost music education with private lessons, ensembles, and a strong college-prep track for underserved youth. Comparable mission-driven nonprofit model with private lessons and ensemble offerings, focused on Chicago-area access.
• Kaufman Music Center: New York nonprofit operating private lessons, ensembles, and the Special Music School for high-achieving young musicians. Comparable pre-college/performance-prep track and concert programming, including competitions and composer-development initiatives.
• Old Town School of Folk Music: Chicago-based nonprofit community music school offering group classes, private lessons, and ensemble programs across folk, roots, and contemporary genres. Directly comparable nonprofit community-music-school model with multi-location delivery, performance programming, and similar youth/adult lesson pricing tiers.
• Levine Music: Washington DC-area nonprofit music school offering private lessons, group classes, early childhood programs, and ensembles with a tuition-assistance mission. Directly comparable nonprofit structure, age-range coverage, and faculty credentials.
• Settlement Music School: Philadelphia-area nonprofit community music school with private instruction, ensembles, and a scholarship-driven access mission across multiple sites. Closely aligned settlement-house model, lesson/ensemble mix, and donor-dependent revenue structure.
• Music Institute of Chicago: Nonsectarian nonprofit community music school serving the Chicago suburbs with private lessons, ensembles, Suzuki programs, and prep division for pre-college students. Closely comparable mission, instructor caliber, and curricular breadth including Royal Conservatory-aligned instruction.
• Third Street Music School Settlement: Historic New York settlement-era community music school offering private lessons, group classes, and ensembles with a scholarship-supported access mission. Direct functional peer: nonprofit, multi-tier instruction, financial aid model, and community programming focus.

Others

• Royal Conservatory of Music: National credentialing body partnered with MO for Certificate Program delivery; comparable as the standard-setting and curriculum publisher whose certificates MO teaches toward, rather than as a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Epstein School of Music (Music & Arts): National for-profit retailer offering in-store private lessons alongside instrument sales; broad incumbent in the same private-lesson market serving school-age musicians. Comparable lesson product but distributed through a retail/instrument-sales model rather than nonprofit community-school model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TheMOEvanston
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7C0jvW-emfO0vDzgJanvyA
• Facebookfacebook.com/themusicalofferingevanston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-musical-offering-evanston
• Instagraminstagram.com/themusicaloffering

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 The Musical Offering