Old Town School of Folk Music

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The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists.

[edit] History

Founded by folk musicians Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke, the School opened in 1957 offering guitar and banjo lessons and hosting performances by well-known folk musicians. The formation and growth of the School coincided with the folk music boom of the 1960s and early 1970s. Throughout its existence the School has focused on offering both instruction and performance with many performing musicians also acting as teachers and mentors. The School also proved a rich ground for collaboration.

The late 1960s were a peak of success as several musicians associated with the School rose to national prominence, including Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, and Bob Gibson.

As the folk revival declined in the mid-1970s so did the fortunes of the School; although it continued to provide music lessons to hundreds of students the School suffered financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in 1981. A new group of directors took over shortly afterwards, increased fundraising efforts and slowly brought the School back into profitability.

[edit] Today

After occupying a building at 909 West Armitage Avenue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood for several decades, the Old Town School in 1998 expanded into a new and larger main branch in the former Hild Library at 4544 North Lincoln Avenue, with a 400-seat concert hall. As of late 2003, Old Town School now uses as its biggest stage the 1525-seat Harris Theater for Music and Dance located mostly underground in the downtown Millennium Park.

Today, the Old Town School continues to offer music, dance, art and theater classes and performances for adults and children at both locations and children's classes in some suburban branch locations. Students from all over the Chicago area attend weekly classes taught by dedicated professionals. Students can also take ensemble classes, working with others on the music of groups like the Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and many others. Most classes perform at the end of the eight-week term in the "Big Gig" or at local venues.

Many well-known folk, world, bluegrass, jazz, blues and country musicians from all over the world perform at the Lincoln Avenue location.

There are two music stores called the Different Strummer and the Different Strummer Armitage that sell musical instruments for children and adults, books, CDs, accessories and more.