About Us

The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expressions rooted in the traditions of diverse American and global communities. Founded in 1957, Old Town School of Folk Music provides a wide range of music, dance, theater, and visual arts courses to people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Whatever one's interest, Old Town School provides broad access to over 700 accredited class offerings, private lessons, and workshops that span a wide range of artistic genres.

Old Town School experienced tremendous growth since opening its Lincoln Square facility in 1998. With an accessible education model, an array of diverse arts offerings, a dedicated and talented faculty, and a entrepreneurial spirit, the Old Town School has been able to fulfill its mission for tens of thousands more people -- students, concert audiences, school-children and working artists.

The School's critically acclaimed concerts showcase some of the finest and most diverse local and touring artists in our intimate and acoustically superb hall. Ticket prices remain among the most affordable in the city and special events like the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival and World Music Wednesdays make music accessible to all with free and reduced-priced programs.

Old Town School owns and operates two facilities situated in Lincoln Square and Lincoln Park that include 425-seat and 150-seat concert halls, 47 classrooms, two music stores, cafe, and resource center. Children's classes are also held at two suburban satellite locations. Plans for an expanded, state-of the-art education facility are underway in Lincoln Square, with groundbreaking scheduled for Fall 2010 and public opening scheduled for late 2011.

Teachers, Staff and Board of Directors

Click for the full list of all the folks who make us, us.

Directions to the Old Town School

We have 2 main locations in Chicago - 4544 North Lincoln Avenue and 909 West Armitage. But we also offer our Wiggleworms classes at several branch locations and private lessons in the Lakeview neighborhood.

Click here for directions and maps to the Old Town School.

Contacting the Old Town School

We're here to answer your call at 773.728.6000 from 9:00am to 10pm Monday through Thursday and 9:00am to 5pm Friday through Sunday (the box office is also open for calls during concerts).

Click for direct phone extensions, email addresses, and our contact form.

School Calendar

Click for the full School calendar.

Accessibility

Our Lincoln Avenue location is accessible to students and concertgoers with disabilities. We have a ramp at our back door, located at 4527 N. Oakley Ave. Please contact us if you have any questions about accessibility, or if you want to know if we can meet your needs or the needs of another student. Send us a note at: accessibility@oldtownschool.org

Financial Aid

The Old Town School of Folk Music awards financial aid to both children and adults for private lessons and group classes based on financial need. Financial aid applications and renewal forms can be obtained at either of the School's locations or can be downloaded here.

National Recognition

The Old Town School is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Precollegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS). ACCPAS is a division of the Council for Arts Accreditation Agencies (CAAA), the primary accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.