Our Story

Rosie’s House is committed to playing a pivotal role in strengthening our community. Rosie’s House began with 15 students attending afterschool music classes in a small home in an impoverished neighborhood. Today, Rosie’s House has grown to a full-fledge community center offering free music lessons, mentorship, performance opportunities and free meals, all within a welcoming place.

As one of the largest providers of free afterschool music education nationwide, Rosie’s House uses achievement in music as a bridge to achievement in life. At Rosie’s House, we support youth as they achieve their full creative and personal potential.

March 6, 1996

Rosie’s House is founded by Rosie Schurz in a 2-bedroom house in the Oakland neighborhood of Phoenix, AZ.

August 2020

Renovations began at Rosie’s House permanent home.

Construction begins at Rosie’s House first permanent location at 919 E Jefferson St in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The new 15,000 square-foot faculty is fully customized for music learning, creation and performance.

May 2021

First faculty and student “meet and greet” in Rosie’s House new permanent home.

November 2022

Rosie House Grand Opening, featuring the unveiling of the Rosie’s House mural by Shela Yu.

Commissioned for the Grand Opening Event, Shela Yu’s mural is full of vibrant colors and movement. The mural features the music of “Rhapsody No. 1” for solo violin by the contemporary American composer Jessie Montgomery. Shela, a Chinese American multi-disciplinary artist born and raised in Mesa, AZ, hopes her mural will “encourage the viewer to look a little longer and become curious, perhaps becoming full of rhapsody at what they discover.”

Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children is a certified Institutional Member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. For our unique community impact, Rosie’s House received the 2014 Governor’s Art Award in Arts Education.

Accolades

Winner of PBS Be More Awards for Community Arts Organization in May 2010
Received City of Phoenix Hero Award from Neighborhood Services Department in April 2012
Selected as the Phoenix Charity of Choice by Josh Groban in October 2013
Awarded the National Society of Arts & Letters Advocacy Prize in February 2014
Honored with the Arizona Governor’s Art Award, Arts Education in March 2014
Presented with the Certificate of Excellence from the National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award in June 2015
Awarded Best Mariachis in Training by the Phoenix New Times in October 2016
Honored with a City of Phoenix Proclamation for Community Value in May of 2018

Community Partnerships

Rosie’s House, located in the Central Arts District, collaborates with other non-profit organizations in our endeavor to change young lives through music education. Recent collaborations include working with:

Arizona State University Gammage Cultural Participation Program
Arizona Piano Institute
Arizona Flute Society
Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
Banner University Medical Center
Central United Methodist Church – Classroom & Space Donation
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
Phoenix Chamber Music Society
Phoenix Chorale
UMOM New Day Center

Memberships

Rosie’s House is a member of:

Arizona Alliance for Non-Profits
Arizona Citizens for the Arts
Local First Arizona