About Us

SSO was founded at the tail end of 2018. In early 2019 the board of directors was created, and the efforts of those original board members created the foundation for what we have become. Through 2019 we worked to secure a building to operate from. Our first choice was the old Carnegie Library building but fate had a different plan for us. Second was a former church on 4th Ave heading up the hill from downtown which has the ideal recital hall. We had an offer on the building when, at the end of 2019, it became clear that COVID-19 was going to disrupt every business and every life. The deal fell through and we quickly began searching for a new location. It wasn't until August of 2020 that we were able to find a building on 4th Ave East, very close to the former church actually, and we officially opened in September of that year. An ideal time to open it wasn't, but we were optimistic. We brought on several strong teachers who were able to build studios with us as we imagined how to operate in this new paradigm. We were fortunate because our particular business can be moved online, and that's what we did. SSO has always taken COVID-19 seriously and we shut our doors from November to January of 2021 and moved all of our students to virtual learning. We instituted mask requirements after opening back up and we have followed the Health Department guidance for businesses since then. We will continue to take the safety and health of our students, families and teachers as a top priority.

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Sailing into our 3rd year we are excited to see what comes next. We have had several recitals and concerts like our first virtual recitals in the fall of 2020 to the first ever Beethoven Sonata Festival that same year. SSO never requires participation in performances but we try to offer as many opportunities as possible for musicians to share their music with friends, family, and the community. 

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Over the years we have been so happy to work with students of all ages and abilities. We have, of course, had students who were just starting out as 5 or 6 year olds, but we also worked with high school students preparing for important contests and auditions. We have worked with adults of all abilities, from beginner to advanced. We have worked with students in the foster care system thanks to a partnership with Treehouse for Kids as well as students who might otherwise not be able to afford lessons. We have also worked with students on the autism spectrum. We recognize that every child is different and that experience alone does not automatically make us the best option for everyone, and so we are more than willing to set up interviews with parents and students to make sure we are the right fit for their goals. We have worked with elderly students who have played for decades and who just like to play. We have also worked with parents of our own students who see how much fun their kids are having. The main takeaway is that we have experience in a variety of instruments and students and learning styles. 

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We look forward to working with you.