Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Cieslak.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
While a graduate student in vocal performance at the University of Minnesota, I was hired as a voice teacher at St. Joseph’s School of Music. I was lucky to start at a school where a supportive director and colleagues surrounded me. I loved working with students one-on-one, watching them grow and develop as people and musicians. A few years later, I moved to San Francisco to continue my career in singing, but I had already started considering what I might want to do next. I loved the idea of being a part of the administration of a music school someday, to make a lasting contribution not only to students and fellow musicians but to an entire community. The opportunity to do just that arrived earlier than expected and I jumped. I became the executive director of St. Joseph’s School of Music in 2008, returning to the school that gave me my start as a young teacher.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have had many challenges to overcome in the past sixteen years, including business model changes, the downward turn in enrollment due to the recession in 2009, and, later, maintaining our services and faculty jobs during the pandemic. There are always the daily struggles of a nonprofit, too, from funding to consistently making the case for the importance of music education. It’s a good thing we are scrappy! Throughout those years, we were also looking for our forever home and finally relocated to a beautiful building in 2022. Our new space is a piece of St. Paul’s history, established as a public elementary school in 1911, and is a gem like we are! At our new home, we have room to grow, with nearly 30 lesson studios and a Recital Hall honoring the historic architectural features; the original grand entrance of the school has been converted into an intimate salon performance space.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
St. Joseph’s School of Music was founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose values of caring for all people and deep roots in social justice causes have informed our philosophies and programs. Our mission is to share the joy of music with people of all ages, abilities, and aspirations, and our robust scholarship program seeks to remove obstacles. This year, we have served over 500 students with music lessons, ensembles, group classes, and performance opportunities, touching many more lives by extension. We continue our relationships with alumni and families and provide concerts in the community. Our dedicated faculty have always led our school culture. We have close to 50 educators with exceptional backgrounds as professional musicians and a calling to teach, nurture, and contribute to the growth of their students and the entire school. For all of us in the community, St. Joseph’s School of Music is clearly “a work of heart.”
We prioritize a meaningful and kind place to teach and study. It is a refuge from the fast pace of the world, from screens, social media, technology, and the news cycle. I find beauty and simplicity in the act of a student and a teacher sitting together at a piano. I find purpose in listening to each other in a music lesson. It is so special to have a moment when we can draw our attention away from daily stress and instead think about bow hold, breathing, technique, or the universe of music we can learn. That is the same experience music students had 50 or 250 years ago! The purpose and comfort found in music lessons do not change, and the gifts are enduring. St. Joseph’s School of Music is truly a gem.
What do you think about happiness?
I love getting to know the families and students who attend our school and following their progress and dreams over many years. I love meeting new families and hearing about their joy in discovering music. I love that we have hired the next generation of teachers who attended our school and were encouraged and formed as musicians by our supportive community. I have learned about entrepreneurship, leadership, and myself in the past sixteen years. I am grateful for the many friends, colleagues, and board members who have helped me learn and grow in this role and those who support our community gem.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stjomusic.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stjomusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stjomusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNMcvsXGX1yweaMQUDTqLqg
Image Credits
Scott Streble, Leslie Crane
