Founded in 1931, the Music Institute of Chicago leads people toward a lifelong engagement with music by providing widely accessible resources for high quality music teaching, performing, and service activities—and harnessing the power of music to educate, inspire and bring comfort to the communities it serves. The Music Institute believes that music is an essential element of a strong, well-educated, and compassionate community; that music bolsters the brain, strengthens community bonds, and nourishes the human spirit; and that live music and quality music education should be accessible to everyone. The Music Institute is a member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education and accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Pre-collegiate Arts Schools (ACCPAS). Each year, the Music Institute’s teachers reach thousands of students of all ages and levels of experience. Music Institute locations include Chicago, Evanston, Winnetka, Lincolnshire, Lake Forest, and Downers Grove. In addition, the Music Institute is proud of its longstanding partnership with the Chicago Public Schools through its Arts Link program. The Music Institute offers lessons and classes, and concerts through its Community Music School, Academy, and Nichols Concert Hall.