Music conservatory hosting event

SANDPOINT — Earning an advanced anthropology degree was not the high note of Karin Wedemeyer’s career.

The German-born, U.S. citizen investigated other fields of post-secondary education, but hitting chords as a soprano opera singer is something she still looks fondly upon.

“I performed as an opera singer in Europe and in Japan,” Wedemeyer said.

Despite her degrees, she did not pursue anthropology as a career path. Instead it was music that held her interest and still does.

 “I followed a professional career singing,” she said.

Most recently, Wedemeyer opened Music Conservatory Sandpoint, a school geared toward teaching music students, including those in diapers and pull-ups, the strings.

The school, which opened last winter, relocated to its new location at 110 Main St. a couple months ago. It plans an open house Saturday from 10. a.m. to 1 p.m.

The public is encouraged to attend the event, peruse the premises, and enjoy the mini concerts offered by students playing a variety of instruments.

The conservatory, said Wedemeyer, stems from an idea to bring music students into a community environment. There, they can learn to play classical instruments from each other and trained instructors.

“We wanted to bring the talent together in this community,” Wedemeyer said. “We wanted to create a music community where students have relationships among each other and perform together.”

The conservatory’s programs include private and group instruction from early childhood to teenagers and adults.

The school’s Little Mozart program is meant to nurture and develop musical skills among youngsters from toddlers to four year olds.

“The goals are to develop a sense of rhythm, the child’s singing voice and listening skills,” she said.

And it allows parents to take part in their children’s musical development, she said.

Saturday’s open house will showcase the school’s studios and practice rooms as well as its kitchen, flute room and foyer.

“It’s all very family friendly,” she said.

The school has 30 students and seven instructors.

“For us, this is a chance to meet the community,” Wedemeyer said. “We’re at a level now where we can say, come and take a look.”