Kelowna Community Music School

At the Kelowna Community Music School, we are passionate about providing high-quality music instruction to students of all ages and skill levels. With a rich history dating back to 1976, our not-for-profit charitable society has been dedicated to fostering a community of creative lifelong learners through exceptional music education. Our faculty members are highly qualified and dedicated professionals who bring enthusiasm, passion, and a staggering number of combined years' experience to their studios and rehearsals.

Our Vision

Our vision is to nurture a community of creative lifelong learners through exceptional music education. We envision our students developing life skills of resilience, collaboration, and habits of excellence in addition to reaching their personal musical goals. We believe that music education is essential for the development of the whole person, and we strive to provide a supportive and inclusive environment that fosters creativity, self-expression, and personal growth.

Our Services

We offer a wide range of services to meet the diverse needs of our students. From private lessons to group programs, our faculty members are dedicated to providing personalized instruction that meets the unique needs and goals of each student. Our private lessons are designed to provide one-on-one instruction tailored to the individual student's needs, while our group programs offer a fun and interactive way to learn music with others. We also offer bursaries to support students who may not have the financial means to pursue music education.

Our History

KCMS was founded in 1976 by a grassroots movement of parents wanting Suzuki violin lessons for their children. Faced with travelling to Vernon for a qualified teacher, they set about to bring one to Kelowna. That teacher was Denis Letourneau, a founding faculty member of the school. Various schools and churches housed the school until it moved to Dehart Avenue in 1991. In December 2021, the hunt began for a new home. Today, we are proud to celebrate over 45 years of excellence in teaching and have an enrollment of approximately 600 students, from young children to adults, who are taught by 24 highly qualified faculty.

Our Culture

The culture of KCMS is characterized by the diversity, creativity, and commitment of its student body, by the high professional standards, imagination, and dedication of its faculty and administrative staff, and by the joyfulness of musical expression in all genres by both students and faculty throughout the greater community.