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FOX 9: Minneapolis teen’s song earns national honor and Broadway debut – August 2, 2026
Pumphrey submitted his song to the National Alliance for Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge and was named one of eight winners. As part of this honor, his song was professionally orchestrated...
A Prelude to Broadway
Music education at MacPhail prepared James Pumphrey for the national stage. Recent high school graduate and longtime MacPhail student James Pumphrey was one of eight winners of the National Endowment...
Staying Current
Flexible support for MacPhail’s Contemporary Music Program helps accelerate innovation. After learning about MacPhail’s emerging Contemporary Music Program, representatives of the Clouser and Keller families were eager to broaden their...
A home for musicians of every age and stage
At MacPhail, music education goes beyond lessons to build confidence, connection, and community. Serving 15,000 students annually, MacPhail is the nation’s largest nonprofit community music school—a unique identity that comes...
Footprints: A jazz giant’s dedication to music education at MacPhail
This year marks 31 years of teaching over 500 students at MacPhail for Greg Keel. Having played saxophone for over 20 years with the likes of Aretha Franklin and The...
Celebrating 30 Years of Rock Week at 7th St Entry
For 30 summers, young musicians from MacPhail Center for Music have ended an unforgettable week by stepping onto one of Minnesota’s most iconic stages: First Avenue’s 7th St Entry.
KSTP Feature: MacPhail Celebrates 30 Years of Rock Week – July 10, 2026
KSTP celebrated the 30th anniversary of MacPhail’s Rock Week, highlighting three decades of giving generations of young musicians the opportunity to write, rehearse, and perform on the iconic stage at...
KSTP Highlights MacPhail Music Therapy Students’ Special Olympics Send-Off Performance – June 27, 2026
MacPhail Center for Music is proud to celebrate Music Therapy students Brandon Leu and James Johnson, two musicians on the autism spectrum who were featured by KSTP after performing at...
MacPhail Welcomes Michael Waldman as Vice President of Development
MacPhail Center for Music is pleased to welcome Michael Waldman as Vice President of Development.