Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA)

Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (SPCPA) We are an independent public high school that provides state standard-aligned college prep academics Students self-select on-level, advanced and AP courses.

MISSION:
The mission of SPCPA is to provide the highest caliber academic and artistic education for aspiring pre-professional artists to fully prepare them for college and conservatory. ARTS:
SPCPA provides comprehensive training in Theatre, Musical Theatre, Dance, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music, Visual Art and Creative Writing. All arts classes are taught by current working professional artists

and focus on technique, practice, study and the creation of original work. Through master classes and J-Term students have the opportunity to engage with many artists and arts organizations in the Twin Cities and beyond. ACADEMICS:
Academic instructional environments encourage inquiry and intellectual curiosity, and empower students to raise questions and develop a patterns of lifelong learning. Students enjoy small class sizes, multiple AP options and innovative lessons taught by traditionally licensed teachers. Curriculum is active, collaborative and aligned with state standards.

We are back! What an amazing first week at SPCPA! A big welcome to all of our new students and staff, and welcome back t...
08/21/2026

We are back!
What an amazing first week at SPCPA! A big welcome to all of our new students and staff, and welcome back to everyone returning to our community. Our building is full of energy, creativity, and students finding their rhythm again.

Thank you to our students, families, and staff for a great start. We can't wait to see what happens next! 💚🖤

Welcome to SPCPA Paul Fonfara@Paul is a multi-instrumentalist composer, songwriter, producer and all-around nice guy.He ...
08/19/2026

Welcome to SPCPA Paul Fonfara@

Paul is a multi-instrumentalist composer, songwriter, producer and all-around nice guy.

He has toured numerous times throughout the US, Canada and Europe as both a soloist and band member with performances on NPR and BBC. He has been awarded 5 grants for composition, writing for chamber orchestra, Balkan’s style brass bands and songwriting collaborations. As a songwriter, Paul has recorded 5 albums that are an eclectic mix of effects laden odd meter post punk, Eastern European folk and jazz. His last mostly instrumental record received a 4 star review in Downbeat Magazine and in 2024 produced an album of Venezuelan folk songs that was voted best new Latin release on Billboard and a first round selection for a Grammy. In addition to numerous commissions to score and perform for silent films, Paul has scored documentaries for Netflix, Hulu/Disney and writes for NBC/Universal. Often collaborating with West Thordson for feature films, Paul’s playing can be heard on M Night Shyamalan’s Glass, Queen of Bones and in the outro credits of Breaking Bad El Camino. Paul’s music has been placed in over 70 episodes of TV world wide.

Paul has been teaching clarinet, saxophone and guitar lessons in the metro area since 2005 as well as general music, band and music therapy in Minneapolis Public Schools.

We are excited to have you on our team!

📣All Students Start Monday! 📣A reminder that all SPCPA students start school this Monday, August 17! This is a change fr...
08/15/2026

📣All Students Start Monday! 📣

A reminder that all SPCPA students start school this Monday, August 17! This is a change from previous years, so we wanted to make sure everyone has it on their calendar.

Doors open by 7:30 AM, classes start at 8:00 AM.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone back! 💚🖤

Welcome to our Visual Arts Staff Jacob Bennett!Jacob is a ceramic artist and educator with nearly eight years of experie...
08/14/2026

Welcome to our Visual Arts Staff Jacob Bennett!

Jacob is a ceramic artist and educator with nearly eight years of experience on the wheel. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, where he also worked as a Ceramics TA and technician, gaining hands-on expertise in glaze mixing and kiln operation.

Jacob's studio practice centers on functional garden ware such as fountains, birdbaths, and other outdoor forms—paired with ongoing experimentation in glaze chemistry.

As an educator, Jacob will focus on helping young artists discover their own creative voice, encouraging them to think inventively about different natural and everyday materials. His teaching also will have a strong emphasis on working in harmony with the natural world, creating space for students to connect with nature's beauty. Outside of school, Jacob is still deep in glaze testing and throwing on the wheel! He also loves exploring the Twin Cities and trying out new coffee shops!

Welcome Jacob!

Meet Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer, a Nigerian-born dance artist, educator, and cultural leader based in Minnesota. She is the F...
08/13/2026

Meet Korma Aguh-Stuckmayer, a Nigerian-born dance artist, educator, and cultural leader based in Minnesota. She is the Founder & CEO of Afrocontigbo Dance & Wellness Company, using dance, storytelling, and cultural education to celebrate African heritage, wellness, and community.

Since founding Afrocontigbo in 2014, Korma has built a powerful bridge between traditional Igbo movement and contemporary African dance styles. Her work has been featured at the Minnesota State Fair, Ordway, Minnesota Fringe Festival, Little Africa Festival, and Minnesota Timberwolves African Night.

Through Afrocontigbo, Korma reaches more than 1,000 community members each year and creates paid opportunities for more than 30 artists. She also leads school and community residencies across Minnesota, helping young people build creativity, confidence, cultural pride, and wellness through movement.

A passionate advocate for holistic well-being and cultural preservation, Korma believes movement is a pathway to healing, wholeness, and joy. We are excited to welcome her and celebrate the artistry, culture, and perspective she brings to our community!

Welcome to SPCPA!

Welcome to SPCPA Danielle Ricci Cheng!Danielle is an educator, choreographer, director, and dancer. She received her BFA...
08/12/2026

Welcome to SPCPA Danielle Ricci Cheng!

Danielle is an educator, choreographer, director, and dancer. She received her BFA in Dance Performance from University of California, Irvine under direction of Donald McKayle. She graduated with an MA in Arts and Cultural Management from St. Mary's University of Minnesota and earned an MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University. She has studied at The Ailey School in New York City as part of their Certificate in Dance Program and has danced professionally in California, Texas, and Minnesota performing with Loretta Livingston and Dancers, Austin Classical Ballet, and Austin City Ballet.

Danielle is the Founding Artistic Director of Borealis Dance Theatre- a contemporary modern dance company based in Minneapolis. She is also Director of Dance Camera North- International Dance Film Festival and Minnesota High School Dance Festival. She has served as an adjunct professor of dance at Winona State University and has presented work and taught at the American College Dance Festival Association upper Midwest conference in association with University of Wisconsin, River Falls where she has been a guest artist for the past nine years. Danielle specializes in ballet, modern/ contemporary, jazz, musical theatre, improvisation and partnering, social justice choreographic practices, and dance appreciation. She has choreographed over 30 musicals for high schools, universities, and professional theatre companies. Along with directing BDT, Danielle currently teaches ballet and contemporary dance at Minnesota State University, Mankato, modern/ contemporary dance at Ballet Royale Minnesota, ballet at Turning Pointe Dance Studio and coaches the Minneapolis Dance Team for MPS.

Join us in welcoming Danielle to our team!

Workshop Days Our staff is back, collaborating, planning, learning, and getting ready to welcome our students for anothe...
08/12/2026

Workshop Days Our staff is back, collaborating, planning, learning, and getting ready to welcome our students for another incredible year at SPCPA!

There’s a lot of excitement in the building as we prepare for the first day and we can’t wait to see our students back in the halls. Here’s to a great year of learning, creating, performing, and growing together! 💚🖤

We’re ready, SPCPA. Let’s go!

Welcome back to SPCPA Chris Hepola!Chris is a drummer, pianist and composer based in the Twin Cities. He has worked in m...
08/11/2026

Welcome back to SPCPA Chris Hepola!

Chris is a drummer, pianist and composer based in the Twin Cities. He has worked in many musical settings for live audiences throughout North America and Europe, including: Lincoln Center, The Newport Folk Festival, Bush Hall in London and The Greek Theater in L.A.

He has worked as a music director and composer for theater productions that have debuted locally, nationally and internationally including Joe’s Pub in New York, Tricklock Theater in Albuquerque, The Playwrights Center in Minneapolis and the ITSelF Festival in Warsaw, Poland.

Additionally, Chris has written scores for films through commissions with syncopated silents, the Minnesota History Center, Sound Unseen, Twin Cities Horror Festival, the Minnesota State Arts Board and others. In addition, Chris records, produces, performs and tours with artists making music in a variety of different genres.

We are thrilled to have Chris back!

Welcome to SPCPA Curtis Thompson!Curtis is an active performer, educator, instructor, and recording artist whose work sp...
08/11/2026

Welcome to SPCPA Curtis Thompson!

Curtis is an active performer, educator, instructor, and recording artist whose work spans classical, modern, musical theater, popular, and chamber music. A multi-instrumentalist with a passion for diverse musical traditions, he focuses on performing and recording 20th-century classical guitar repertoire.

Curtis served as Guitar Instructor at Idaho State University, where he taught applied guitar, developed curriculum for the university’s Commercial Music program, and advocated for music education through outreach to rural schools throughout Idaho.

Curtis is currently the Coordinator of the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute and the rhythm coach MMEA All-State Jazz Band. He holds degrees in guitar performance from Idaho State University and Northern Arizona University and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Guitar Performance at the University of Minnesota.

Based in the Minneapolis area, Curtis performs throughout the Midwest with collegiate, orchestral, and community ensembles. His debut album, Tonada (2023), features works by Ponce, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, and Lauro. This Fall, Curtis is collaborating with the Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists to present works for guitar and choir.

Please give a warm welcome to Curtis!

Welcome to SPCPA Leon Valencia!Leon is a Twin Cities-based multimedia visual artist with over ten years of art and educa...
08/11/2026

Welcome to SPCPA Leon Valencia!

Leon is a Twin Cities-based multimedia visual artist with over ten years of art and education experience. They hold a BA from Instituto Allende and have worked with organizations and galleries such as The MIA, CLUES, Highpoint Printmaking Center, The Creating Change Gallery, The University of Minnesota Quarter Gallery and was a studio artist with Public Functionary. As an educator, Leon focuses on hands-on learning, deepening critical thinking skills and adapting lessons to align with curiosity and interests. Outside of teaching at SPCPA, they are currently working for Ricardo Levins Morales in his Minnehaha Ave. studio & shop and at their own studio ( #467) in the Northrup King Building.

Welcome to SPCPA Leon! 😀✍🎨

Address

16 5th Street W
Saint Paul, MN
55102

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 4pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 7:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 7:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+16512902225

Website

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