McNally Smith College of Music

McNally Smith College of Music
Name	McNally Smith College of Music
Established	1984
Closed	2017
Type	Private for-profit
City	Saint Paul
State	Minnesota
Country	United States
Campus	Urban

McNally Smith College of Music was a private, for-profit music college in Saint Paul, Minnesota, founded as a music school and later accredited as a college offering contemporary music degrees. It operated from 1984 until its closure in 2017 and served students pursuing careers in performance, production, songwriting, and music business. The institution engaged with regional and national music communities through partnerships, guest artists, and workforce pathways.

History

The school originated in 1984 when Tommy McNally, Stephen Smith, and local musicians founded a professional music training program influenced by urban music scenes such as Minneapolis sound, Twin Cities punk, North American jazz, Nashville country, and Los Angeles studio traditions. During the 1990s it expanded amid a broader rise in for-profit postsecondary institutions alongside entities like Berklee College of Music, Musicians Institute, Full Sail University, and The New School. Accreditation milestones involved agencies comparable to Higher Learning Commission standards and interactions with state regulators including the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. The college hosted masterclasses and clinics featuring visiting artists from Prince, Bob Dylan, Randy Newman, Stevie Wonder, and Herbie Hancock-era practitioners, reflecting connections to touring circuits such as Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Newport Jazz Festival. Financial and enrollment pressures in the 2010s, paralleling challenges faced by institutions like ITT Technical Institute and DeVry University, preceded its 2017 closure.

Campus and Facilities

Located in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, the campus occupied converted commercial buildings near landmarks such as the Xcel Energy Center, the Mississippi River, and the Science Museum of Minnesota. Facilities included rehearsal rooms modeled after Abbey Road Studios layouts, recording studios with consoles inspired by Neve Electronics, and performance spaces similar to those at Bluebird Cafe and First Avenue. The campus housed a library and archive with recordings and scores associated with artists across scenes including Prince (musician), The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Bob Mould, and Cassandra Wilson. Technical resources incorporated equipment brands linked to Avid Technology, Yamaha Corporation, Shure Incorporated, and Roland Corporation.

Academics and Programs

Academic offerings emphasized applied, career-oriented programs comparable to curricula at Berklee College of Music, IRCAM, and Juilliard School vocational extensions, with degrees in music production, recording arts, songwriting, music business, and performance. Coursework combined studio practice influenced by pedagogy from Les Paul innovations and Tom Dowd techniques with studies in music publishing tied to rights frameworks like those administered by ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Collaborative projects referenced models used by Blue Note Records, Motown Records, Sub Pop, and Capitol Records for artist development. The college ran certificate programs, continuing education, and short-term intensives mirroring offerings from Red Bull Music Academy, Guitar Center Lessons, and The NAMM Foundation workshops.

Faculty and Administration

Faculty included working professionals drawn from performance and industry circles affiliated with labels and institutions such as SONY Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Concord Music, and independent producers connected to studios like Sound City Studios and Electric Lady Studios. Administrative leadership engaged with accrediting bodies and workforce development organizations including Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and regional arts funders like the McKnight Foundation and Minnesota State Arts Board. Visiting lecturers and adjuncts included producers, engineers, and artists who had collaborated with acts such as Aretha Franklin, Prince (musician), The Rolling Stones, David Bowie, and Joni Mitchell.

Student Life and Organizations

Student organizations supported ensembles, industry clubs, and performance collectives modeled after student groups at Berklee College of Music and New England Conservatory. Campus concerts and events connected students to booking networks like Live Nation, AXS, and Local First Minnesota, and to community initiatives such as Saint Paul Winter Carnival performances and collaborations with Minnesota Orchestra outreach programs. Students participated in regional festivals including Twin Cities Jazz Festival, Riot Fest, and Minnesota Fringe Festival, and engaged in internships with local venues such as First Avenue, The Cedar Cultural Center, and Fine Line Music Cafe.

Notable Alumni and Faculty

Alumni and faculty associated with the college worked in diverse roles with acts and organizations including Prince (musician), P.O.S (rapper), Atmosphere (hip hop group), Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Bob Mould, Cory Wong, Trampled by Turtles, Poliça, Zakir Hussain, Esperanza Spalding, Celine Dion, Maya Rudolph, Jon Batiste, Questlove, Brandi Carlile, St. Vincent (musician), Ani DiFranco, John Mayer, Norah Jones, Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, Erykah Badu, Lizzo, Maggie Rogers, Halsey (singer), Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Wilco, Yoko Ono, Igor Stravinsky, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Freddie Mercury, David Byrne, Brian Eno, Peter Gabriel, Iggy Pop.

Closure and Aftermath

In December 2017 the institution announced the cessation of operations amid financial insolvency and accreditation withdrawal processes similar to incidents involving IT-sector colleges and for-profit closures like Westwood College and Heald College. Students faced teach-out arrangements and transfer options coordinated with regional institutions such as Minneapolis College of Art and Design, Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, University of Minnesota, and private conservatories. The campus properties entered liquidation and were repurposed in redevelopment projects in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota, intersecting with local planning entities and economic initiatives tied to Saint Paul Port Authority and downtown revitalization efforts. Alumni networks, continuing education providers, and community arts organizations absorbed instructional roles formerly offered on site.

Category:Defunct_music_schools_in_the_United_States