Music Works Northwest

Music Works Northwest is a nonprofit community music school, dedicated to changing lives through accessible music education and experiences.

Founded in 1966 in Seattle’s Central District as the Imperials Drum and Bugle Corp, Music Works relocated to Bellevue in 1999. Each year Music Works provides individual music lessons, music classes, music therapy, summer camps and free concerts to thousands of King County residents. Music Works students excel in their school music programs, winning WMEA recognition and regularly participating in award-winning area ensembles such as the Bellevue Youth Symphony, the Seattle Youth Symphony and Youth Theater Northwest. Music Works faculty members are professional musicians who perform with the Tacoma Symphony, the Seattle Opera, the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, and other area ensembles. All have advanced music degrees, and 65% hold graduate degrees in music from such prestigious institutions as the Eastman School of Music, Julliard, Rice University, Boston University and Cornish College of the Arts.

Music Works grants tuition assistance to dozens of students each year who would not otherwise be able to afford private instruction. Last year thousands of audience members attended free concerts given by Music Works students and faculty. Public school music students benefit from coachings and master classes at their schools presented by Music Works faculty members, at no cost to these students or to their schools.