Silverlake Conservatory of Music

In 2001, longtime friends, musicians, and Red Hot Chili Peppers collaborators Michael "Flea" Balzary and Keith "Tree" Barry opened the Silverlake Conservatory to help fill the void created by years of cutbacks to arts education programming in the Los Angeles public schools. What began in the iconic Sunset Junction neighborhood as a place for private music lessons and scholarships to students in need, quickly expanded to ensemble classes, summer camps, and workshops. In 2016, the Conservatory moved to its new home in a 1930s Hollywood Boulevard brick building featuring thirteen state-of-the-art lesson studios, a recital space, and a retail store all beautifully redesigned by architect Barbara Bestor.

Although the Silverlake Conservatory's primary focus is on the youth of the community, they welcome and encourage people of all ages and skill levels to participate. They offer private music lessons on all orchestral and band instruments including voice, as well as a variety of ensemble classes at a reasonable cost. 

A primary mission of Silverlake Conservatory of Music is to provide scholarships to children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford lessons. Through various sources – personal contributions, corporate contributions, musical instrument donations, and in-house fundraising activities – the Conservatory has maintained a strong roster of talented and committed future musicians. Silverlake Conservatory of Music scholarship students receive free weekly one-on-one lessons, instruments, supplies, ensemble classes, and summer camp registration.