South Baltimore Music Academy (SoBo Music), which first opened in Federal Hill in April 2024, has expanded into its own dedicated studio space at 1200 Light St. It was previously a co-tenant of the 740 Light St. office building with Congruent Counseling and The Well.
SoBo Music is a sister location of the Patterson Park Academy of Music which was launched in 2021 by Joshua Espinoza and Erik Franklin. Espinoza is a pianist and teacher by trade. Franklin was a clarinetist in an Army ensemble at Fort Meade and is also a composer.
The expansion to 1200 Light St. allows SoBo Music to have two additional teaching studios. SoBo Music offers one-on-one instruction in piano, guitar, ukulele, violin, cello, and now drums with the additional space. The academy will also explore the possibility of group classes within its new larger space.
SoBo Music and Patterson Park Academy of Music team up to host recitals in May and December at the New Century School in Fells Point.
SoBo Music will continue operating baby and toddler music classes at Salem Lutheran Church in Riverside.
The storefront at 1200 Light St. was most recently the home of offices for White Oak Hospitality Group. A portion of the buildout for SoBo Music was supported by a Project Restore 2.0 grant sponsored by Federal Hill Main Street.
“We are thrilled to expand into a dedicated space where students of all ages can explore music and creativity in South Baltimore,” said Espinoza in a press release. “We are very grateful to our friends at 740 Light St. for allowing us to incubate the academy during our first year in operation.”
