Music school taps new director with deep Northside roots
Alfred Sanders
By David Pierini, Editor
Alfred Sanders got his ideal job in January when the Northsider was named executive director of Hopewell Music School.
But Day 1 came with a crisis.
Before his start date, Hopewell received an order to vacate its more-than-decade-long home at North United Methodist Church in Camden. Another church bought it and had other plans for the space.
Instead of viewing the search for a new home as an emergency, Sanders sees it as an opportunity.
“There’s a level of pride with being the only music school on the Northside,” he said. “Let’s make sure we’re intentional. Let’s not do things just to do things. Let’s set ourselves up to really support the arts and hold lessons for people of all ages.”
Sanders has room to breathe. Hopewell and its roughly 100 students have temporary lesson space at Christ the River of Life Lutheran Church on Fremont Avenue North. And Hopewell’s board can also breathe a little easier, knowing the new school head keeps his head calm and forward-looking.
Sanders replaced Andrea Myers, who stepped down in August to pursue other interests. Sanders grew up in the Camden neighborhood and brings to the job a mix of vocal training, songwriting, arts programming and youth work. Prior to joining Hopewell, Sanders co-founded a Black arts organization in South Minneapolis.
“In a competitive search for the next leader, Alfred stood out,” said board chair Jeannine Burnette. “His stories growing up in North Minneapolis, his commitment to helping underserved youth, love for music education, experience leading non-profit business operations and his all-around warm personality is what drew us to him.”
Growing up, Sanders’ music education came from singing in his church choir and signing up for various music programs at the time at Oak Park Neighborhood Center. When he was older, he returned to Oak Park for a year-long program in non-profit leadership known as Public Allies.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, and sociology from Metro State University and received training at the Musicians Institute, which includes artist development, songwriting, and audio engineering.
Sanders has conflict resolution training, having worked as an educational specialist for Robbinsdale schools and as youth wellness advocate for Simpson Housing Services.
Where Myers, his predecessor, played and taught flute, Sanders sees himself for now as more of a program builder than a classroom teacher. Sanders said he would like to cover other aspects of the music business and build career pathways if he teaches.
“I’d like to see some of our programs as a form of healing in the community and form an artist space where young people can feel like themselves,” he said.