SPRING 2019
SOUND-OFF News from Education Through Music
Education Through Music Releases 2017-18 Impact Report Education Through Music has released a new report highlighting baseline findings from the first year of our updated approach to evaluating the impact of ETM’s music education model and programming. In 2017, ETM embarked on a multi-year evaluation plan to gain insight into areas such as access to and opportunity for music education, student engagement in music and school, and music teacher and principal satisfaction. Some key findings include: • 79% of families say it would be difficult for them to pay for private music lessons without a school music program; • 40% of students in new partner schools report they have never before had a general music class. Moving forward, ETM is working to gather data that will allow analysis of year over year changes, in order to delve more deeply into the program’s impact and, where needed, strengthen services. We look forward to continuing this assessment so that we strengthen and improve going forward. “ETM remains committed to bringing high-quality music education to all students,” said Executive Director Penny Swift. “Our ongoing evaluation ensures that the ETM model supports school communities in the best possible way.”
59% of middle-school
students in ensembles have wanted to skip school but went anyway, because of ensemble
70% of parents whose
children attend ETM partner schools agree that learning music helps their child’s social development
Read the full report at impact.ETMonline.org
100% of surveyed partner
school principals agree that concerts and musical performances are an important part of their school’s culture
Quality music education for all children
2 FOUNDERS Eldon C. Mayer, Jr. Edmund R. Schroeder
Education Through Music Newsletter
Music Teacher Spotlight
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Penny Swift, Executive Director Rainah Berlowitz, Director of Finance & Business Operations Katherine Canning, Director of Development Leighann Starkey, Director of Evaluation Josephine Winfrey, Director of Human Resources Sharisse Brannon, Human Resources Associate Tania Chambers, Office Associate Katherine Freedman, Development Associate Lina Li, Finance Associate Amy Lichtenstein, CPA, Finance Manager Mubashir Mohi-ud-Din, Evaluation Associate Lisa Mongillo, Grant Writer Daniel Rader, Creative Marketing Associate Jennifer Swift, Development Associate Jennifer Williams, Marketing & Communications Associate Katherine Damkohler, Director, National Activities
PROGRAM STAFF Colleen Stewart, Director of Programs Nicholas LaFleur, Director of Partnership Programs Brian Frazee Taione Martinez Assistant Program Directors Rachael Carson Naomi L. Fernandez Joseph Fusca Erin Giacinto Stephanie Nantell Ulises Solano Instructional Supervisors
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard Bernstein, Chairman Aly Alibhai, Vice-Chair Katherine D. Elliott, Treasurer Edmund R. Schroeder, Chairman Emeritus Joshua Bell Waleed Diab Michael Y. Fang Amy Ferris Gus Field Victor J. Goldberg Meghan E. Graper Matthew F. Knouff Andrew J. Malik Joseph F. McDonald Amie Patel Michael R. Schaefer Heidi Stamas David E. Stiepleman Manoj Susarla Emily H. Susskind Robert A. Weisstuch Steven J. Williams
ADVISORY COMMITTEE The 5 Browns Misha Dichter Dante DiLoreto Marilyn Horne Jane Remer Gloria Reuben Harold Tanner
ETM Music Teacher Lenin Ovalles currently teaches at both P.S. 68 and P.S. 583 in the Bronx
As part of a new series, ETM is shining a spotlight on the people who work in our partner schools day in and day out. This spring, we spotlight Lenin Ovalles. We congratulate Lenin on his exceptional work this year. Lenin grew up in Washington Heights, first experiencing music at a young age through his local church. He wasn’t exposed to music in elementary school, but in middle school his teacher started him on the trombone and he quickly fell in love. He went to LaGuardia High School for instrumental performance, and in his senior year decided to pursue voice in addition to instrumental music. From there he attended Adelphi University with a B.S. in Music Education and is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Education at The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Lenin joined ETM as a music teacher in August of 2018 and
immediately became an active, engaged member of ETM’s music teacher community. Since joining ETM, Lenin has received regular support from his Instructional Supervisor and is quickly growing into a skilled and highly effective teacher. He is a frequent ETM Professional Development attendee and is currently participating in a monthly Conducting Masterclass Series provided by ETM this year. Lenin shared, “From a very young age I knew that I wanted to have music and life-long learning at the very center of my life. I love being a student. Toni Morrison often tells her writing students, ‘If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.’ Once music became like a power to me, I started to see music education as my way of empowering communities when I was made conscious of the lack of equity within our urban public schools.” The power of music has translated to Lenin’s teaching career as he strives to make a positive impact on his students’ lives. “My first job is not to teach music but rather to make sure kids grow in the direction where music can come out of them naturally,” he stated. “When I see students leaning on other students for help, or when I find a student who has learned what they need in order to succeed, that’s when I know I’ve made an impact.”
Waleed Diab Joins Board of Directors ETM is thrilled to welcome Waleed Diab to the Board of Directors. Mr. Diab currently leads Record Label Business Development for North America at YouTube. In this role he is responsible for negotiating
YouTube’s agreements with three global major record labels, Vevo and all independent and non-standard recorded music distributors. Mr. Diab is a 2004 graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
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Education Through Music Newsletter
Life-Long Learners ETM continues to offer professional development programs to ensure teachers’ long-term success Education Through Music remains committed to bringing high-quality music education to all students. Throughout the year, ETM teachers are offered a series of professional development courses designed to help expand their knowledge and enhance their skills. As a result, teachers can maximize their impact in the classroom, building music programs that best support student learning and development. Led by ETM’s program staff, a variety of courses are offered, including: Leading a Great Ensemble, Selecting a Great Repertoire, Producing the Performance, Incorporating Technology into the Classroom, as well as specific classes on instruments, from strings to recorders. Courses give teachers strategies for running rehearsals, learning new skills and adopting new techniques, among other things. From there, teachers can take their newly-gained knowledge to the classroom as they continue to provide their students with a quality music education. One of the new offerings this year is a Conducting Master Class Series presented by Dr. Esther Liu Harris, a Choral Director at Packer Collegiate Institute. Dr. Harris is also an adjunct professor at the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and a private conducting instructor for Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Harris has served on the faculty at the Juilliard School in the Pre-College Division since 2004 and conducts the Youth Chorus. Over the five class series, Dr. Harris trains teachers in how to connect the skills students are developing in their general music classes and apply
those skills to their understanding of choral repertoire. “Our goal for our music teachers is that when they teach a new piece of music they are teaching to the entire repertoire of music, not just conducting the piece,” shared ETM Instructional Supervisor Stephanie Nantell. “We want them to focus on rhythm and melodic intervals so they are really engaging their students and teaching them all the way around.” Workshops are further supported
by ongoing mentoring. “We want our teachers to gain first-hand experience with the curriculum. Then we work with them to implement these new activities and ideas,” said Instructional Supervisor Joe Fusca. These activities are funded in part by The Music Man Foundation and the Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation.
ETM Instructional Supervisor Naomi Fernandez helps an ETM teacher with clarinet technique.
ETM Instructional Supervisor Rachael Carson leads ETM teachers in a sample strings lesson.
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Education Through Music Newsletter
Holiday Concerts Give Students And Teachers A Chance To Shine ETM partner school students, under the guidance of their music teachers, spent the first half of the school year learning new skills and preparing performance material for holiday concerts. These concerts give students the opportunity to perform for their parents, who beam with pride as they look on. The programs were outstanding!
Students from P.S. 169 in thge Bronx raise their hands and voices as they perform for their parents.
This student from P.S. 169 is all smiles as he performs with his friends.
Students at P.S. 23 in the Bronx clap along as they perform for their families.
Cello students at M.S. 180 perform a selection of songs for their school.
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Education Through Music Newsletter
Students from St. Ann School in Manhattan get into the holiday spirit with their creative hats.
A perfect trio! Students from P.S. 169 perform.
A closeup on the brass section at M.S. 180 in the Bronx plays for their school.
This violinist performs holiday songs with the M.S. 180 orchestra.
This P.S. 23 student is ready to perform!
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Education Through Music Newsletter
ETM Partner School P.S. 103 Sings at One World Trade, then Gets a Visit from Miss Universe! Students from ETM partner school P.S. 103, Hector Fontanez in the Bronx, performed at One World Trade in December, 2018, and had a visit from reigning Miss Universe Catriona Gray in March, 2019.
On Top of New York City! Students Perform at One World Trade The Ensemble Stars Choir from P.S. 103 performed high above New York City on December 11, 2018 at One World Trade to celebrate the holiday season. Under the direction of music teacher Antoine Dolberry, the choir performed several songs on the 64th floor of One World Trade. Employees working in One World Trade were treated to “Ain’t No Mountain High
Enough” as well as Russian and Jewish holiday songs, and a special music tribute for the victims of 9/11. “We were honored to be invited back for a second year in a row to have our students perform on top of one of the tallest buildings in the world,” said Penny Swift, ETM Executive Director. “This is a great opportunity to showcase student talent, while also raising awareness for the need for
music education in schools.” The program featured speeches from Richard Bernstein, ETM Chairman and Executive Vice Chairman of Cushman & Wakefield, Eric Engelhardt from The Durst Organization, and P.S. 103 principal Farid Reyes, who all shared about the importance and value of having music education in schools.
Miss Universe Catriona Gray Visits ETM Partner School P.S. 103 As part of “Music In Our Schools Month,” Miss Universe Catriona Gray visited students at ETM partner school P.S. 103, Hector Fontanez on March 19 to help raise awareness for the need for music education. Students performed “Seasons of Love” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” After the performance, Catriona shared about her journey
to becoming Miss Universe and how music education has made an impact on her life. Catriona received her Masters Certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music and shared that the arts have always been a part of her upbringing. “Catriona’s passion for music and the arts tie in perfectly with
our mission to provide music as a core subject for all students. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students and we are grateful to Catriona for taking time out of her schedule to share her story with them,” said ETM Executive Director Penny Swift.
Students at P.S. 103 perform a collection of songs high above NYC, including “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and a tribute to victims and survivors of 9/11.
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Education Through Music Newsletter
A soloist from P.S. 103 performs “Conqueror.”
Miss Universe Catriona Gray lets a P.S. 103 music student wear her sash. Catriona shared about how music education has had an impact on her life.
Miss Universe Catriona Gray poses for a photo with music students at P.S. 103.
Foundation, Corporate & Government Supporters 2017-18 and 2018-19 Allen & Overy LLP Allied World Lily Auchincloss Foundation New York City Council Member Diana Ayala Bangs-Russell Foundation Bettina Baruch Foundation The Beasley Family Fund Booth Ferris Foundation Martha and John William Bradshaw Charitable Trust Brodsky Family Foundation Bronx Delegation, New York City Council New York City Council Member Fernando Cabrera CMA Foundation Colgate-Palmolive Company Con Edison D’Addario Music Foundation Dancing Tides Foundation New York City Council Member Ruben Diaz, Sr. Jean and Louis Dreyfus Foundation The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation William and Muriel Elliott Foundation Find Your Light Foundation Eloise Susanna Gale Foundation New York City Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson Gilder Foundation GKV Charitable Foundation Goldman Sachs Gives
Jerome L. Greene Foundation William Randolph Hearst Foundation New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie Dubose and Dorothy Heyward Memorial Fund Houlihan Lokey The Hyde and Watson Foundation Jockey Hollow Foundation New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson Carl E. Kessler Family Foundation Kinder Morgan Foundation New York City Council Member Andy King Emily Davie and Joseph S. Kornfeld Foundation The Leir Charitable Foundations Lemberg Foundation New York State Assembly Member Joseph Lentol Manhattan Borough President’s Office Community Awards Program New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation Musical Instrument Learning for Kids Montgomery Family Foundation Morgan Stanley Strategy Challenge The Music Man Foundation National Endowment for the Arts New York City Department of Cultural Affairs New York City Department of Education
New York Community Trust Nonprofit Excellence Awards New York State Council on the Arts New York State Education Department The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Henry E. Niles Foundation New York City Council Member Annabel Palma New York State Assembly Member Victor Pichardo Pine Tree Foundation of New York RBC Wealth Management Richmond County Savings Foundation Rite Aid Foundation KidCents New York State Assembly Member Nily Rozic Rossi Family Foundation May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation F.A.O. Schwarz Family Foundation Scoob Trust Steinway & Sons Michael Tuch Foundation Ullmann Family Foundation New York City Council Member James Vacca Laura B. Vogler Foundation The Waterwheel Foundation The Weissman Family Foundation John F. Welch Jr. Foundation Wellington Shields & Co. Wells Fargo Foundation
ETM’s programs are supported in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature; and by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
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A GALA TO BENEFIT
EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC Honoring
PARAMOUNT GROUP, INC. ALBERT BEHLER, CHAIRMAN, CEO & PRESIDENT CIPRIANI 42ND STREET
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12TH 2019 6PM COCKTAILS
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EMCEE: KATE FLANNERY PERFORMANCES BY
THE ARTURO O’FARRILL TRIO & EDUCATION THROUGH MUSIC’S PARTNER SCHOOL STUDENTS Students from P.S. 154 in Queens perform at the 2018 Children’s Benefit Gala. They will be performing at this year’s gala as well.