The mission of the bART Center for Music is to contribute to the vitality of community arts in Tulsa through music education for all. The vision is that everyone, regardless of income, race, gender, age or ability has the opportunity to be creative through music.
At The bART Center for Music, we focus on the three pillars of our mission:
Musically Motivated Arts Education – Our goal is to offer access to music education to individuals of all ages and abilities, and to provide a rigorous preparatory conservatory program for aspiring professional musicians.
Self-Discovery – We want to help students realize their full potential musically and beyond, inspiring resilience and creativity, developing problem-solving skills and learning how to express themselves through multiple disciplines.
Community Involvement – Our vision is to contribute to the vibrant and diverse music community in Tulsa through innovative partnerships.
The bART Center for Music was founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The bART was made possible through the legacy of Dr. and Mrs. Albert Barthelmes, who came to the US from Germany in the late 30’s on the eve of World War II. Musicians themselves, they, with other early Tulsa arts supporters, founded the Tulsa Philharmonic. Dr. and Mrs. Barthelmes also established the Barthelmes Foundation, which single handedly birthed the Barthelmes Conservatory aka The bART Center for Music.
For almost 20 years now The bART has been a downtown Tulsa community music school. Through our music school, pre-college preparatory conservatory program, and our outreach programs in Tulsa and Union Public Schools, we have fulfilled the need for music education for thousands of children and adults in the Tulsa community. By offering affordable music lessons we are able to give the gift of music to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to be creative through music. We at the bART are committed to providing students from all demographics an equal opportunity to discover their musical potential and develop a life-long love of the arts.
In 2017, The bART relocated to the Deco District with beautiful new facilities at 610 S. Main Street. Our 8,000 square foot school has 17 music studios, 2 large classrooms and ample space for gathering, sharing music and small performances. We follow the CDC's guidelines to maximize the safety and health of all our students and their families, faculty, and staff.
At the bART Center for Music we are committed to providing our students with professional instruction and mentorship to meet all needs. Our teaching artists are experienced professional performing artists coming from diverse and knowledgeable musical backgrounds. Many of our instructors teach at local universities and/or high schools and perform regularly with local symphonies, as well as ensembles and bands around the Tulsa area. We are committed to supporting not only our students, but local artists and musicians in the Tulsa community as well.
