DePaul University School of Music

What DePaul University School of Music does

DePaul University School of Music is a private, conservatory-style music college founded in 1912 and operated as a constituent college of DePaul University, a private Roman Catholic institution in Chicago. It serves undergraduate and graduate students pursuing BM, BS, BA, and MM degrees across music performance, jazz studies, music education, composition, sound recording technology, and performing arts management, alongside a Community Music Division (CMD) that has served over 700 children and adults via private lessons, ensembles, and recitals since 1988. The school operates from the Lincoln Park Campus (804 W. Belden Ave.) and is anchored by the Holtschneider Performance Center, a 185,000 sq. ft. five-venue facility opened in 2018 at a $98 million cost.

The school's core technology is a 9:1 student-to-faculty training model delivered by 110+ faculty, including members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera of Chicago, and supported by 10+ student ensembles, recording studios, and access to over 400 annual performances. Distribution is hybrid: in-person delivery on campus plus a Spektrix-powered online ticketing platform and the Gig Connection service that links students to paid engagements. The school is fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and holds Full Member certification from the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

The revenue model is a hybrid of (a) tuition and fees — undergraduate $50,403/year flat (12-18 credits, up to four years) and graduate $1,038/credit hour (typical master's ~$24,912/year,), (b) Community Music Division tuition and registration fees for non-degree students, (c) performance ticket sales via the HPC Box Office, and (d) philanthropic donations and event fundraising (the Hirt landmark gift and the annual Performathon). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer recruitment via campus visits, virtual tours, information sessions, trial lessons, and admission events, with no third-party channel intermediaries.

Name

DePaul University School of Music

Legal name

DePaul University School of Music

Website

https://music.depaul.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

DePaul University School of Music is a 1912-founded conservatory-style college within DePaul University in Chicago, offering undergraduate and graduate music degrees plus a Community Music Division serving 700+ pre-college and adult students, anchored by the 2018 Holtschneider Performance Center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Music Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Conservatories & Music Colleges (EDAHAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Instruction (Instrumental & Vocal) (EDAMAAAE), Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA)

Keywords

• Music education
• Degree programs
• Performance instruction
• Conservatory training
• Community music

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Undergraduate tuition billed as a guaranteed package rate for 12-18 credits per quarter; graduate tuition charged per credit hour
2. Donations and Fundraising: Gifts to the Fund for Community Music Division and scholarship support through Performathon events
3. Performance Tickets: Revenue from ticket sales for concerts and events with additional processing fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

DePaul University School of Music delivers undergraduate and graduate music degree programs in performance, jazz studies, music education, composition, sound recording technology, and performing arts management, taught by a faculty of 110-plus working professionals. The school also operates the Community Music Division, which provides private lessons, musicianship classes, ensembles, and recitals to more than 700 children and adults in the Chicago area. Complementary programming includes student ensembles, the National Concerto Competition for Young Performers, and the Gig Connection, which places students into paid professional performance opportunities.

Product overview

DePaul University School of Music is a comprehensive music education institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across performance, jazz studies, music education, composition, sound recording technology, and performing arts management. The school operates the Community Music Division (CMD), which provides music instruction to over 700 community members of all ages. Key facilities include the Holtschneider Performance Center, a 185,000 sq. ft. venue with multiple performance halls. Student ensembles include orchestras, choirs, jazz ensembles, and opera theatre. The school also runs outreach programs including the Gig Connection (connecting students with professional gig opportunities) and annual events such as the National Concerto Competition and Performathon fundraiser.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• School of Music Degree Programs Undergraduate and graduate music degree programs offered through DePaul University, including the Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Bachelor of Science in Sound Recording Technology, Bachelor of Arts in Music, Master of Music in Jazz Studies, Master of Music in Music Education, Master of Music in Composition, and Post-Master's Certificate in Performance. Designed for prospective and current students pursuing professional careers in music performance, jazz, music education, composition, sound recording, and performing arts management.
• Community Music Division (CMD) Non-degree music instruction program for children and adults in the Chicago area, offering individual lessons, musicianship classes, performance ensembles, workshops, and student recitals. Serves more than 700 students annually through more than 70 artist-educators, fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and certified as a Full Member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education.
• Student Ensembles Program Performance ensemble offerings for enrolled students, including the DePaul Symphony Orchestra, DePaul Concert Orchestra, DePaul Wind Symphony, DePaul Ensemble 20+, DePaul Choirs, DePaul Opera Theatre, DePaul Jazz Workshop, DePaul Jazz Ensemble, DePaul Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Baroque Ensemble, Chamber Music groups, and Percussion Ensemble. Designed for music students seeking intensive large- and small-ensemble performance experience across classical, jazz, contemporary, and operatic repertoire.
• The Gig Connection Service program connecting DePaul musicians with clients seeking live music for weddings, corporate functions, private parties, and theater productions, enabling students to earn income from professional performance opportunities while still enrolled.
• National Concerto Competition for Young Performers Annual paid competition program for young musicians in piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone, with solo registration at $185 and duo registration at $235 (20% early-bird discount available). Winners perform concerto movements with the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago, drawing approximately 150 participants annually from across the Midwest.
• Holtschneider Performance Center State-of-the-art performance facility opened in 2018, hosting concerts, recitals, and events open to the public via the Holtschneider Performance Center Box Office. Tickets are sold in-person, by phone, and online through Spektrix, with additional processing fees. The 505-seat Gannon Concert Hall and 105-seat Jarvis Opera Hall feature acoustics designed by Kirkegaard.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Oistrakh Symphony of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership formed in 2007 for Concerto Competition winners to perform with the professional orchestra. Winners receive opportunity to perform concerto movements in concert with the orchestra.
• Chicago area CPS schoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeaching-artist programs at Nicholas Senn High School, James Russell Lowell Elementary, Hanson Park Elementary, Westinghouse College Prep, Kenwood Academy, Carl von Linne Elementary, and John Spry Community School serving over 200 students.
• Chicago Children's ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative programs offered in partnership with Chicago area schools and the Chicago Children's Choir.
• National Association of Schools of MusicminorOthersFully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music
• National Guild for Community Arts EducationminorOthersMember of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, the preeminent organization fostering community music and arts schools since 1937. Holds Full Member certification.
• Chicago Consortium of Community Music SchoolsminorOthersMember of the Chicago Consortium of Community Music Schools
• Suzuki Association of the AmericasminorOthersMember of the Suzuki Association of the Americas
• New Horizons International Music AssociationminorOthersMember of the New Horizons International Music Association

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Juilliard School: The preeminent U.S. music conservatory offering BM, MM, and DMA programs in performance, composition, and jazz; operates as the gold-standard incumbent against which DePaul benchmarks faculty and admissions quality.
• Berklee College of Music: Leading global contemporary music and performing arts institution with broad program portfolio (jazz, performance, music business, production). A larger incumbent competing for the same international music-student audience.

Direct peers

• University of Illinois School of Music: Large public university music school with comprehensive degree programs, ensembles, and performance facilities. A peer on academic program breadth and Midwest regional recruitment, though public vs. private institution.
• Columbia College Chicago Music Department: Chicago-based urban arts college with contemporary music, jazz, and performing arts programs targeting a comparable student demographic; competes for the same Chicago metro applicants and performance talent.
• New England Conservatory: Independent Boston conservatory offering BM, MM, and DMA programs with comparable faculty intensity and performance-focused curriculum; competes for top-tier classical and jazz applicants nationwide.
• Roosevelt University Chicago Musical College: Historic Chicago conservatory (est. 1867) offering performance and music education degrees with a similarly small, faculty-intensive model; competes directly for the same Chicago talent pool and prospective students.
• Northwestern University Bienen School of Music: Chicago-area music conservatory offering BM, MM, and DMA programs with similar faculty quality (including CSO members) and 9:1-style student-faculty ratios. The closest direct geographic and programmatic peer to DePaul.

Emerging players

• Interlochen Center for the Arts: Pre-college and summer arts institution with intensive music programs (Academy, summer camp, Arts Academy boarding school). A pre-college feeder and emerging competitor for the same young talent pool entering DePaul's degree programs.

Others

• The Suzuki Association of the Americas: Industry association (DePaul/CMD is a member) that defines standards for community music education and Suzuki method instruction. An ecosystem/credentialing body rather than a direct competitor, but shapes the competitive landscape for the CMD.
• Civic Orchestra of Chicago: Professional training orchestra affiliated with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra that absorbs 10-15 DePaul students/alumni annually. A strategic ecosystem partner and pipeline for DePaul graduates into CSO-adjacent careers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DePaulSOM
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/depaul-university-school-of-music

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 DePaul University School of Music