Our Initiative
The bART Center for Music
Promoting access and excellence in music education
About The bART Center
The bART Center for Music is a place to awaken the musician within each of us, regardless of age, musical ability, ethnic origin, disability, or inability to pay. The mission of The bART Center for Music is to promote access and excellence in music education.
The bART serves through its three areas of expertise:
The Barthelmes Conservatory
Aims to promote artistic and academic excellence and to prepare musicians of the highest quality, serving students who display the potential to pursue music as a professional career.
The bART Music School
Strives to provide superior music education to enhance quality of lives and to promote aesthetic, musical, emotional and creative potentials regardless of ability and age.
The bART Outreach Program
Focuses on providing access to music instruments and instruction at public schools that fall in to the 91st – 99th percentile for free- and reduced lunch programs.
Our Journey
History
The Founders Arrive
Just before the start of World War II, Albert and Hete Barthelmes immigrated to Tulsa from their native Germany. They helped found the German American Society of Tulsa and were supportive patrons of a wide range of performing arts in Tulsa. The Conservatory arose out of their desire to establish a place where excellent music education was available to everyone in the community.
The Conservatory Founded
The Barthelmes Conservatory was founded and started its pilot program at the University Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
A New Vision
Aida Aydinyan joined the Conservatory as the Executive Director. Mrs. Aydinyan brought a rigorous and refined Armenian Music Scholar perspective to the Conservatory. Under her leadership, the Conservatory adopted a new vision and became an umbrella for its two divisions: Music School and Music Center, located in the Bernsen Building, downtown Tulsa.
Growing Impact
Now a seven-year-old nonprofit organization, the Barthelmes Conservatory provides the best in music education IN Tulsa and FOR Tulsa, serving hundreds of students across all skill levels and backgrounds.
Visit The bART Center for Music
Discover programs for students of all ages and abilities.
Visit thebart.org