Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of running a music school. Growing up at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts in Halifax, Canada, I practically lived in its historic halls—taking cello and ballet lessons, wandering the corridors while waiting for my mom to finish teaching piano.

By twelve, I knew I wanted to be a professional musician. But the high-level instruction I needed was often out of reach for our family. My mom and I baked, babysat, and took on odd jobs to cover tuition and travel, relying on the generosity of Conservatory faculty and donors who believed in my potential. Their support changed my life.

I also fell in love with the energy of the Conservatory—the joy, the discipline, the friendships formed as children discovered the arts. I knew I wanted to create a place like that someday, even if I didn’t know where or when.

In 2018, my family moved to Midland, TX, and I left my roles at the Maritime Conservatory and Symphony Nova Scotia. I began teaching two Suzuki students out of my living room. Word spread, and that little studio soon grew to twenty students, then forty, and now more than eighty. What started as the West Texas Suzuki Society evolved into the West Texas Conservatory, a vibrant home for music, ballet, and art—a place where young people are nurtured to become the very best version of themselves.

We’ve built something beautiful together, but our vision doesn’t stop here. To keep growing and serving even more families, we need you—your support, your presence, your belief in what the arts can do for children and our community.

With gratitude,
Maia Cook
Founder & Director