The conductor’s baton at The Conservatory, a Doylestown music school, will beat time and cue players no more. After a 34-year history of lessons, performances, and therapy work, the program has taken its final bow, as reported by WFMZ 69 News.

The announcement came via the school’s website, in a letter signed by its executive director, Rachael Gallagher.

In it, she cites a discontinuation of music therapy contracts, a lack of enrollment, downward trends in donated monies, and loss of qualification for funding.

“Despite the work of the Board of Directors and [me] to find ways to improve our sustainability — including having conversations with other music schools about merging — we have exhausted all options. We now must be realistic,” Gallagher posted.

The music education center started in 1988 as the Community Conservatory of Music, in the President’s House on the grounds of Delaware Valley College. It moved four times before landing at its present Doylestown site.

The structure comprises 22 music studios, a 100-seat performance hall, and a virtually unused recording studio, added about a year ago.

 At its peak, The Conservatory instructed nearly 400 budding musicians weekly.

Gallagher’s message concluded: “Our greatest wish for all students and families is to take what you have learned at The Conservatory and continue to thrive with music in your life.”

More on this cultural diminuendo is at WFMZ 69 News.