About CMI

University of Oregon’s Community Music Institute is celebrating nearly three decades of string instruction to the Eugene community! Students ages preschool and up can enroll to begin violin and viola lessons, and piano lessons for those 7 years and older, to begin a life-long journey of learning teamwork, discipline, and creative expression, and having fun through music.

CMI was founded in 1993 under the directorship of Sylvie Spengler and Dean Anne Dhu McLucas, providing musical instruction for young students. In 1997, Shelley Rich founded the Suzuki Strings and Chamber Players programs. In 2007, viola professor Leslie Straka assumed leadership of CMI and Lillie Manis became the Associate Director. In 2021, under the leadership of Dean Sabrina Madison-Cannon, Shelley Rich returned as Associate Director and has continued to build SSP and CP, and CMI expanded offerings to include programs for piano. In summer 2023, CMI celebrated the retirement of longtime business manager, Carla McShane, which offered the opportunity for restructuring within our programs. Starting Fall 2023, current staff member Brooke Cagno joined CMI as Business Office manager. Starting Spring 2024, School of Music and Dance’s Violin professor Sunmi Chang and current Viola instructor Arnaud Ghillebaert joined CMI as Chamber Players coach and program coordinator respectively.

Throughout our history and in each of our programs, CMI is proud of our partnership with the School of Music and Dance, and all it provides for our students: access to concerts, mentorship from string faculty and pedagogy students, and a learning environment rich with artistic opportunities. CMI is a creative and inclusive learning community whose primary goal is to help each student reach their highest potential while fostering a love of the arts and strong self-expression. We're proud to be able to prepare our most passionate students effectively for serious music study in high school, college, and beyond.