When Peggy Wise opened The Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians 45 years ago, her dream was to give 15 single mothers from the Cabrini Green public housing project and their children an opportunity they didn’t have access to before: music instruction. The dream was that music lessons and classes would bring families closer together, help the children develop important academic and life skills, and open doors that were previously closed to them. Thanks to a grant from the Joyce Foundation, the first group of families were enrolled tuition-free in Suzuki instrument lessons and Orff classes in the fall of 1981. Over the years, the school grew and expanded its accessible music programs. Today - 45 years and two name changes later - we are still living out Peggy’s dream and continuing her legacy of bringing music, human connection, and life skills into the lives of all those who want to participate, regardless of their socioeconomic status or accommodation needs. This year, ChiME programs serve 3,300 children through 194 classrooms in 26 organizational and school partnerships—including 17 Chicago Public Schools—and through our facility in West Town, where we offer early childhood classes, private lessons, music therapy, and ensembles. Approximately 62% of our participants are economically disadvantaged and 38% have diverse learning needs and disabilities.

ChiME’s goals today are very similar to Peggy’s original purpose: to give our students a chance through musical engagement to tap into their creativity, express themselves, be part of an inclusive community, and reach their true potential. We aim at giving ALL students joyful music-making experiences in which they can participate fully and successfully, build character, and develop skills helpful in all areas of their lives. Through the repertoire and musical activities in ChiME programs, students learn about our core values of accountability, response-ability, and teamwork. They practice goal setting, planning, and prioritizing. They discover effective ways to communicate and collaborate with others. They develop discipline to achieve goals, the ability to think critically, and the drive to find solutions to intricate problems. They practice empathy and learn to value differences and celebrate diversity. No matter what career they decide to pursue in the future, students will be able to use the skills they learned at ChiME to build a successful life for themselves and help others improve their lives, thus inspiring and empowering positive change in their communities. Making music with ChiME will help them become future leaders and change-makers who will make this world a better place.

At ChiME, we all aim to grow through music for a better tomorrow! Join us at the 2026 Growing Through Music Gala to celebrate 45 years of accessible music-making and to grow with us!

45 years of ChiME:

1981 - Peggy Wise starts 15 families in the tuition-free program under the name Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians
1986 - Partnership with the Chicago Public Schools is established to bring a music program to boost literacy
1994 - a proprietary early childhood “Baby STEPS” curriculum is created
2001 - Peggy Wise retires
2005 - after a period of decline, the school closes due to a budget deficit, and is rescued back to existence by alumni and past board members
2014 - Suzuki-Orff School becomes ChiME
2015 - Music Therapy program is created
2016-17 - Framework undergoes a transformation with the creation of a new mission, vision, principals, and values
2019-2024 - a significant private trust grant helps ChiME rethink its programs and invest in instruments, professional development, and program management
2025 - ChiME awards over $120,000 in tuition assistance for partner schools and students enrolled in West Town programs
2025-26 - ChiME partners with 26 schools and organizations to deliver music in 194 classrooms and 7 after-school programs

2026 Growing Through Music Gala

By Chicago Center for Music Education (ChiME)

2026 Growing Through Music Gala

Celebrating 45 years of accessible music making!

Team Members