At St. Joseph’s School of Music, you’ll find a welcoming environment, nurturing staff, and a close-knit group of families and individuals who share the joy of music. Being a student at St. Joe’s is more than showing up for weekly music lessons–it’s about community.
The St. Joe’s community is made up of dedicated teaching artists and staff who care deeply about musical growth, lifelong learning, and building connections to the people and places around them.
We asked several faculty members to share what community means to them–and what they enjoy most about teaching at St. Joe’s. These teachers also share a special connection to the school as alumni. Here’s what they said about their experience at St. Joe’s:
Matthew Dosland, faculty member and cellist at St. Joe’s, said community is the core aspect of music making, “We as musicians and teachers exist to serve the community we live in. Our job is to enrich the lives of those around us and if we are successful, that creates a community that values music, art, and each other.”
Matthew said he appreciates the curiosity and support shown by the people at St. Joseph’s. As a student at the school from 2007-2014, what he enjoyed the most was talking to a fellow student or to one of the faculty members before or after lessons. He said it was so much fun to talk about what we were working on and looking forward to, providing a sense that they were all working toward something in music together.
Matthew chose to come back to St. Joseph’s because he’s always wanted to teach and pass on the knowledge about music. “Being on the faculty at St. Joe’s allows me to do this in a community I grew up in and want to give back to.”
Pianist and faculty member Tim Kraack started his St. Joseph’s journey around age 6, with Suzuki method violin lesson in the old building on Grand and Summit. Around age 8 he moved to piano lessons and met Mary DeVries, who would teach him all the way until he went to college for piano performance.
“My favorite memories as a student were Mary's recitals. She was famous around the school for having large student recitals with a big age and skill range. I remember looking up to the older kids who played longer, more complex repertoire, and when I was older myself, waiting my turn to play at the end of the recitals. Mary was also known for her Halloween recitals where everyone played spooky music in costume while Mary, in her witch costume, sat right next to the bench in case anything went wrong!”
Tim shared that to him, community means knowing the people around you, and that having a variety of teachers all in one space means that teachers and students can collaborate in interesting ways and share their experience.
A member of the faculty since 2011, Tim said St. Joseph’s is a supportive place where teachers can do what they know best, which in turn leads to support for students. “I've always appreciated the school's support of the community. St. Joe’s keeps music lessons accessible to students while offering high-quality opportunities with qualified teachers.”
“Community is very important to me,” said violinist Elizabeth Bergmann. “I love being able to share my passion for music with other like-minded people.”
Elizabeth joined the St. Joseph’s faculty in 2023, but her first experience at the school was taking flute lessons from fifth through eighth grade. She said after graduating college, she knew she wanted to start teaching and had fond memories of her lessons at St. Joseph’s. “I knew the teachers took their job seriously and the .students worked hard to achieve excellence. I wanted to be a part of a music school with that kind of environment.”
“The Twin Cities is a vibrant place for music full of tight-knit musicians and I love working alongside them at St. Joe’s and cultivating my own studio to bring new musicians into that community,” Elizabeth shared.
She also mentioned that occasionally guest artists will perform at St. Josephs, including a small jazz ensemble that had an open rehearsal in one of the school’s performance spaces. “It’s great to see how the greater music community is involved with the music school and can provide an example to students of what they too can achieve.”
John Rose has been a St. Joseph’s faculty member since March 2023, offering instruction on violin, viola, and piano. His history with the school goes far beyond that, a former student from age 8 to 18. The time he spent at St. Joe’s was a formative part of his childhood and helped him prepare for a degree in music.
John said his favorite memory as a student was being asked if he wanted to be in the MMTA (Minnesota Music Teachers Association) honors competition. “I would have never even imagined the possibility of playing competitively at that point, but my teacher pushed me to be the best I could be.”
After graduating college, he said returning to St. Joe’s felt like more than a job opportunity–it was like coming back to his musical home. “The level of music here has always been incredibly high, while keeping a positive and nurturing environment. I will always appreciate that.”
Want to learn more about the community at St. Joe’s? With a wide array of options including private and group lessons, family activity nights, music exploration classes, recitals, and performance outreach opportunities, St. Joe’s students are part of a well-rounded music education community that goes beyond the weekly lesson.
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Upcoming Events: Check out our calendar of upcoming events and performances
- Lessons and Classes: Browse the many classes, lessons, and other opportunities offered at St. Joe’s
- Meet our Faculty: Learn more about our talented and dedicated teaching artists
- Questions? If you have any questions about St. Joe’s or need help finding the right lesson or class for you, we’re happy to help! Contact us here or call 651-690-4364.