Mission & History

About Us

Phone: (563) 690-0151
Email: admin@nisom.com

Office Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30AM-6:30PM; Friday 10:30AM-5:30PM

Northeast Iowa School of Music
2728 Asbury Road, Suite 200
Dubuque, IA 52001

The Northeast Iowa School of Music is a non-profit community organization located in Dubuque, Iowa that makes music education and enrichment accessible to all.

Instructional programs are available for preschoolers through senior citizens. No experience or audition is required, and scholarship assistance is available to those who qualify. In addition to instruction, NISOM provides the community outreach programs and a variety of community events and concerts. 

Our facilities include private studios, an electronic piano lab, a waiting room, and administrative offices.

NISOM is a 501(c) 3 (non-profit) corporation; all donations are tax-deductible.


Learn more About Us: Board & Staff | FAQ | Support

Mission

Mission
Northeast Iowa School of Music (NISOM) makes the life-changing benefits of music education and enrichment accessible to all through instruction, performance, and outreach. 

Vision
We envision a community where everyone can experience personal and creative growth through music and reach their full potential as individuals and musicians.

Core Values
To realize its vision, NISOM embraces and is guided by the following values:

• Personal integrity, discipline, and mutual trust enable students and faculty to achieve excellence and maximize potential.
• Life and health are enriched by life-long learning and appreciation of music. All people deserve this opportunity, regardless of financial obstacles.
• People are the source of our strength, reputation, and vitality.
• Service to and collaboration with the area community is crucial to our mutual success.
• Music is meant to be shared. A community of musicians is beneficial for all and fosters growth, collaboration, inspiration, and joy.

History

The Northeast Iowa School of Music was founded in 2001 by our current Executive Director Tracey Rush, a local music teacher, viola player, and mom. Mrs. Rush was tired of teaching lessons out of her home and tired of driving her kids to multiple locations, on multiple days, to have their lessons on multiple instruments. For years she dreamed of a one-stop-shop. Imagine…a school were parents could bring all their kids, where teachers could teach…and take back their living rooms for living! Eventually, her dream location became a reality: a former church and monastery that had stood empty for many years and was becoming a new business complex, now known as Fountain Park. She quickly claimed a floor that was then renovated into her imagined music school, transforming dormitories into teaching studios and shower space into a faculty workroom and kitchen, and thus NISOM was born.

NISOM opened in the fall of 2001 with approximately 50 students, having been granted non-profit status in February of that year. In 2005 NISOM completed a comprehensive evaluation with the National Guild for Community Arts Education and was awarded certified membership. Guild members are required to meet rigid criteria, such as employing qualified faculty and staff, offering a sequential curriculum that responds to community needs, operating a well-equipped facility, and serving students at various levels of aptitude, with access to financial aid.

Today, NISOM is a thriving community music school. We continue to grow and expand our offerings to the Dubuque community and look forward to the exciting opportunities for service the future will bring.