Doylestown music school to close doors

The Conservatory in Doylestown is closing as a result of the pandemic.In an email to families and students, The Conservatory’s executive director and board of directors announced the music school in Doylestown would close at the end of June, after 34 years.
The Conservatory has provided music education services to all in Bucks County regardless of age, ability, or economic circumstances. However, insufficient funding and a dramatic reduction in the number of students, resulting from the pandemic, has made that mission impossible to continue.
“With the 2020 shutdown, The Conservatory made great efforts to ensure that we could continue to provide music in a time when it was needed. However, two years later we are still impacted by the shutdown,” the email, sent last Friday and again this Tuesday, said, in part.
“We have had significant changes to our revenue by the discontinuation of offsite music therapy contracts, our enrollment is only half of what it was before the shutdown and fundraising trends across the nonprofit industry have made cuts in which we no longer qualify for funding.
“Despite the work of the Board of Directors and myself to find ways to improve our sustainability, including having conversations with other music schools about merging, we have exhausted all options. We now must be realistic,” wrote Rachael Gallagher, executive director.
“Therefore, The Board of Directors and I are announcing that The Conservatory will close on Thursday, June 30th.

“We do not pretend to know the depth of shock and disappointment this news will bring to our families, students, community, faculty, and staff. This decision was not made lightly nor in haste.
“We are deeply proud of our rich history of service to our community. We can confidently say that we accomplished our mission in which thousands of students have been inspired and transformed by their time at The Conservatory. Our greatest wish for all students and families is to take what you have learned at The Conservatory and continue to thrive with music in your life.
“We hope that over the next several weeks you will grieve with us, celebrate with us, and be proud with us.
“We will be providing more information next week about our processes for June. All questions and comments can be directed to Rachael Gallagher, executive director at rgallagher@myconseratory.org.”
The letter was signed “With sincere gratitude to all our loyal families and students,” by Gallagher, and the board – Bruce Wartman, president, Glen King, vice president, Chris Pekula, treasurer, Shannon Kishel, secretary, Howard Savin, member, Jamie Catalano, member, and James Craig, member.

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