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 in arts education programming in Los Angeles' public schools. What began in the Sunset Junction neighborhood as a place for private music lessons and scholarships for 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 13 state-of-the-art lesson studios, a recital space, and a retail store all beautifully redesigned by architect Barbara Bestor.

A primary mission of Silverlake Conservatory of Music is to provide scholarships to children whose families would otherwise be unable to afford lessons. Scholarship students receive free one-on-one lessons, instruments, supplies, ensemble classes, and summer camp registration. Although the Silverlake Conservatory primarily focuses on community youth, it welcomes and encourages people of all ages and skill levels to participate through private music lessons on all orchestral and band instruments including voice — as well as ensemble classes — at a reasonable cost. With the help of personal and corporate contributions, instrument donations, and fundraising activities, the conservatory ensures that everyone can study and enjoy music.