The Atlanta Music Circle

For nearly two decades, Community Music Centers of Atlanta has been changing and enriching lives through music education and outreach. CMC Atlanta opened in the fall of 2007 as the L5P Music Center. Since our founding, we've grown from providing music lessons, after school and performance programs at a single site to a network of four local community music schools that offer an array of innovative and historically-informed music education programs to students of all ages and skill levels. You'll find us in Little 5 Points/Inman Park, Decatur, and Dunwoody. Recognized as a 2024 Best Music School in Georgia by the Georgia Business Journal, we're now expanding our circle of stakeholders so we can reach even more young musicians across Atlanta.

The Atlanta Music Circle Mission: To ensure that more children and young adults in Atlanta who want to study music can do so, regardless of financial circumstance.

We support this goal by helping to fund instructional, performance, and mentoring programs staffed with passionate educators who are not only exceptional musicians, but also dedicated teachers who seek to implement best practices. CMC Atlanta programs foster growth, build confidence, and help develop the next generation of musical talent in our communities. The funded programs also enrich the musical life of individuals, families, and communities by cultivating more music makers.

Why the Atlanta Music Circle is needed

Many Atlanta students lack access to music education apart from what they are offered in school
Private lessons, after-school music programs, summer camps, and pre-professional immersion programs remain out of reach for many interested and talented young people
We're committed to gathering resources to support broader participation, from elementary school through the gap year program

Our Impact

Our students have found success at institutions that match their unique talents and goals—from renowned music schools like Berklee College of Music, NYU, and Cleveland Institute of Music to comprehensive universities like Georgia State University. We focus on finding the right fit for each student rather than pushing everyone toward the same path. Many of our alumni have pursued careers outside of music, carrying with them the creativity, discipline, and confidence they developed through their musical education. The skills cultivated through music—perseverance, collaborative thinking, and artistic expression—enrich our students' lives regardless of their ultimate career choices
In addition to direct support to individual students and their families, we also pursue our mission through collaboration with other institutions. In the past we have partnered with organizations such as Georgia State University, Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Global Village School, Berklee City Music Network, The Decatur Education Foundation, Midtown High School, and Hungry for Music
Our four locations in Little 5 Points, Decatur, Dunwoody, and Inman Park allow us to serve diverse communities throughout the Atlanta area

Join the Atlanta Music Circle By joining the Atlanta Music Circle you will help institutionalize our scholarship and outreach programs, creating sustainability for years to come. Specifically, your donation will provide:

Tuition assistance for those who couldn't otherwise afford music education
Allow students to attend nationally recognized summer training programs like Interlochen Arts Academy, Eastman School of Music, and Berklee College of Music
Support for essential infrastructure support for expanding our programs
Financial support for general operating expenses, such as health insurance and professional development for full-time faculty

The Atlanta Music Circle supports more than a music education program – the Music Circle expands opportunities through music. Come join the circle and help us change lives.

The Atlanta Music Circle is a pending 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN number is 33-4459966. Donations are not immediately tax deductible, but when the application is approved, donations up to 27 months before approval date may be tax deductible retroactively. Please consult your tax advisor.

Atlanta Music Circle Annual Fund

Join the Circle