International Mansion

The Fermi Family has a reputation in Chicago and it is probably because our founder's Grandfather's cousin, Enrico Fermi immigrated here during WWII and made some of the most significant contributions to the world of Physics during that time. It was Fermi's reputation that brought our founder Maria from a small province in Argentina where she was pursuing her education while running an after school music program with her family to Chicago. The Language & Music School began privately in a her apartment in 1990 with just 6 students meeting for combined Spanish, piano, violin, guitar & recorder lessons.  In 1994, parent’s desire for expansion led to the creation and move to the current location at 150 N. Oak Park Avenue.  You must step inside The School to experience the unique atmosphere it affords students.  Since beginning here with only 60 students and 5 instructors, The School has grown to hundreds of students with a faculty of 25.  Inside these walls each day are spoken up to 10 languages, and taught dozens of instruments to students ages 4 months – Adult.  The Language & Music School was founded by Maria Emilia Fermi-Crawford.  Maria is a professor of Music from Conservatorio de Musica Julian Aguirre with studies in Music Therapy, and ongoing studies in child development, and developmental disorders including Asperger’s Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, Bipolar Disorder and others. Martha Yelenosky has been president of the C.A.M.T.A. Jazz Festivals of Chicago since 1997 and is on staff at Northwestern University School of Music.  Martha and Maria are co-authors of LMS First Steps in Spanish™ CD’s and materials for teaching Spanish to children through music based activities.  Maria has been interviewed by publications including Chicago Parent Magazine and has conducted seminars for organizations including Concordia University, El Valor, Child Care Initiatives & Cook County Child Care Resource and Referral.