Community School of the Arts

The Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College (CSA) annually serves over 1,000 students – birth to adult – through a variety of comprehensive music programs. Since its inception, the school has provided a stimulating and nurturing Christian environment for learning and performing.

Our long-standing and accomplished instructors hold advanced degrees in their respective disciplines and are experienced in working with students of all ages and ability levels. Regular feedback requested from both students and parents expresses appreciation for the genuine dedication, commitment, and expertise demonstrated by our teachers.

Wheaton College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), and CSA is a licensed member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Musikgarten, and the Suzuki Association of the Americas.

At CSA, you will find a college campus environment with first-rate performance venues and teaching studios with Conservatory-quality instruments and equipment. Armerding Center for Music and the Arts, which opened in 2020, is the home of the Community School of the Arts. Campus parking is free for all CSA families and visitors.

Thanks to generous donations to our Annual Campaign, need-based scholarships are available for all classes and lesson types. We do not want financial concerns to keep any child from access to music and are so grateful to the generosity of our community for providing these funds year after year.

CSA music students participate in annual large-scale concerts and festivals. Additionally, all students enrolled in individual lessons take part in at least two studio recitals per year. Numerous enrichment opportunities are available to CSA students, including a chamber music program, workshops with professional clinicians, performances at community events, and summer programs.

CSA students and their families have close proximity to Wheaton College Conservatory events, including concerts by the Wheaton College Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band and Choirs, as well as the Percussion and Jazz Ensembles. Many college-sponsored events also take place on campus, and discounted or free tickets are often made available especially to CSA families. Additionally, CSA students have regular interaction with Wheaton College Conservatory undergraduate music majors who serve as student teachers, accompanists, and teaching assistants under CSA Instructor mentors.

We prioritize service and outreach for all CSA Instructors, Staff, and students. Serving each other and our community is a vital element of our mission. Instructors are passionate about imparting the value of service, knowing that it develops character in our students and benefits our community at large.

Since its inception in 2006, CODA’s mission has been to seek out and give artistic access to underexposed talents in our community who might not otherwise have the opportunity to develop their creative abilities. CODA currently provides no-cost weekly music instruction to over 400 students in DuPage County.