OUR MISSION & HISTORY

In 1956, RCM opened its doors to anyone – any age, skill-level or financial ability – with a desire to play, learn and find joy through music. Thanks to our patrons, supporters and talented professional staff, we’ve grown to be a vibrant community center for music instruction, culture and entertainment.

Our Vision:

  • Offer tuition assistance to qualifying low-income students
  • Bring talented musicians and performers to the community
    to educate and entertain
  • Instill a life-long love of the arts to our students and community

RCM is a not-for-profit organization under the 501 (c) (3) tax law.

Our Story

Over the Years

^
1956

Edward & Janet Simons, two life-long musicians, open the Community Music School of Spring Valley in an old firehouse to fill the need for quality music instruction in the community. Four musicians make up the faculty, teaching strings and piano one afternoon per week and one evening per month.

^
1959
Incorporated and chartered by the Board of Regents of State of New York, officially making us a not-for-profit entity.
^
1961
Inauguration of Scholarship Fund, with concerts given in order to make lessons available to families in need.
^
1963

 New York State Council on the Arts awards are new able grant for scholarships for students of color, which is still applied for and successfully awarded at its highest level ever in 2018 – 2020.

^
1974

Accepted as a full-member of the National Guild of Community Arts Education, cementing us as a cultural hub for music education in Rockland County.

^
1989

The Community Music School of Spring Valley officially changes its name to the Rockland Conservatory of Music.

^
1995

Growth and expansion lead to new quarters in Rockland County where we thrive for over 15 years.

^
2000

Music Therapy program benefiting mentally and physically challenged adults from ARC of Rockland and Venture is initiated through corporate and foundation support.

^
2010

After renting for 56 years, we purchase and renovated a beautiful, convenient, and spacious home of our very own at 45 South Main Street in Pearl River, NY

^
2011

The Overtures Concert Series is inaugurated, bringing world class talent to Simons Hall with music ranging from World Music to Jazz, to Bluegrass to Classical.

^
2012

RCM’s largest single donation – $100,000 – kick-starts the school’s Capital Campaign helping to establish firm financial ground to grow for years to come.

^
2013

The Royal Conservatory Music Development Program names RCM a Founding School, an honor only bestowed on quality musical educational institutions.

^
2017

Seventy students receive over $45,000 in tuition assistance, continuing the Conservatory’s history of never turning away students for an inability to pay full tuition

^
2019
Creative Aging Initiative expands to include a Songwriting Class for life-long learners
^
2020

RCM Faculty & Staff go ‘virtual’ without skipping a beat…to keep music in students’ lives during a difficult time