Building Community Through Music

Students at the annual Youth Summer Chamber Music recital.

Music gives a soul to the universe...
and life to everything"

Plato

Our Story

A collage of string instruments played by NCMC students and faculty.

Founded in 1986, the Northampton Community Music Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to foster the love and pursuit of music within our community through quality education, performances and activities that are accessible to all. The Music Center was founded on the principle that music education is fundamental to the human experience and an essential part of childhood development. With the passage of Proposition 2 1/2, many arts education programs in Northampton’s public schools were dismantled, and NCMC grew out of that need and the desire of parents in our community to continue to have access to comprehensive, quality music education for their children.

A collage of percussion instruments played by NCMC students and faculty.

Today, NCMC serves people of all ages, abilities, and financial backgrounds. Over the decades since its founding, NCMC has never turned a student away for lack of funds, because everyone should have access to the healing power of music! In FY 2025, we provided over $70,000 in scholarships to more than 230 local music students. Our financial aid program, is funded by individuals, businesses and foundations alike.