Celebrating 20 Years of Music

Celebrating 20 Years of Music Excellence at AMI

For 20 years, the American Music Institute has been more than a music school. It has been a home for young beginners, rising artists, passionate teachers, supportive families, and a community brought together through the power of music. What began as a place for music lessons has grown into a vibrant musical ecosystem — where education, performance, opportunity, and artistry all live under one roof. This year, we celebrate 20 years of music excellence, community, and creativity. During 20 years AMI evolved into a full musical pathway, supporting students from their very first notes to advanced performance opportunities, and is proud to be home to five major programs, each created to open new doors for musicians of all ages and levels.

American Music Institute

American Music Institute (AMI) was founded in 2006 as a non-profit organization with the mission to provide high-quality music education for all ages, instruments, levels, and styles of music in the Chicagoland area. Featuring world-class faculty from Juilliard, Oberlin, Berklee, and other top music conservatories around the world. With campuses located in Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, St. Charles, and Geneva, IL, AMI offers private lessons, group classes and masterclasses to families and schools.

Chicago Summer Music Camp

 

Chicago Summer Music Camp is a day camp held at Clarendon Hills Campus for students of all levels, ages 5-18 years old, and all instruments. Since the establishment of AMI, summer music camp is taught by AMI’s Award-Winning Faculty and structured to be enriching, exciting, and educational for children to experience music in a fun way throughout the long summer months.

 

American Youth Chamber Orchestra

 

AYCO provides young musicians, intermediate to advanced, chamber and orchestral training. Featuring world-class faculty from Juilliard, Oberlin, Berklee, and other top music conservatories around the world, AYCO also offers Band & Orchestra Clinics and masterclasses in Chicago and suburbs.

Chicago Violin Competition

 

Held every two years, CVC is the top international violin competition held online, setting a new standard in the violin community, providing young artists ages 7-28 the opportunity to showcase their talents on the world’s stage. View Perforamances of CVC Winners & Laureates from all over the world.. Next competition date – Nov 22, 2026.

 

GigHubb – Chicago Live Musicians

 

GigHubb provides fully curated live music for events, weddings, hospitality and corporate functions in the city and suburbs. All revenue generated helps to support AMI’s many outreach and educational programs. Featuring a network of professional musicians, GigHubb offers all genres, instruments and music styles as live music entertainment for events in Chicago.

 

20 Years of Impact

What makes AMI special isn’t just the number of programs, but how they all connect and create a musical journey. Over two decades, AMI has helped thousands of students grow in confidence and skill, young musicians to experience their first performances, families build lifelong friendships, artists discover their voice and communities experience the beauty of live music. TESTIMONIALS

Message from AMI Founder

“AMI was built on a simple dream: that music could help people grow — not only as musicians, but as confident, creative human beings. Twenty years later, that dream lives in every lesson, rehearsal, performance, and smile in our halls. That’s why this year we say, “I AM AMI.” Because AMI is not walls or programs — it’s the people who bring it to life. Thank you for being the heart of our first 20 years.”
– Remus Badea – founder of American Music Institute

Get Involved

Support AMI’s mission to provide high-quality music education for all ages, instruments, levels, and styles of music in the Chicagoland area. Celebrate 20 Years of Music, Community & Creativity.