History of PCM

Phoenix Conservatory of Music (PCM) was the brainchild of Bonnie Lou Coleman who saw a gradual decrease in the readiness of college level students preparing for a career in music education.  Bonnie was the leader of guitar studies at Glendale Community College, and she launched PCM in 1998.  Having benefitted from music experiences in her school years, she saw the lack of such programs in Phoenix.  The organization originally operated out of the back of Music and Record Surplus at Metrocenter, ran private lessons in small studios and lacked the capacity for extensive community programming.

In 1999, Bonnie was fortunate to hire Regina Nixon.  Upon Bonnie’s retirement in 2004, Regina became the executive director.  Their joint vision to deliver the highest quality music education and prepare students for performance and careers, set the organization on a positive track for income and student growth.

A major highlight in the growth of the organization occurred in 2010 as PCM was selected by Berklee College of Music in Boston as part of the Berklee City Music Network.  As the only Berklee partner in Arizona, the affiliation provides PCM students the opportunity to engage with the most prestigious music learning institution in the U.S.  It exposes them to scholarship opportunities for summer camps and tuition.

Demonstrating sustainability and success, PCM is now located in a retail center convenient for classes, lessons and performances for aspiring musicians.  The organization now occupies an even larger space at Metrocenter as of January 2017.

To continue to grow and meet the demands of the students and community, Phoenix Conservatory of Music aspires to be the leading music education provider for school-age children across the valley and provide programming that enriches the lives, minds and hearts of the entire community.

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