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Donors Step Up To Save Juilliard Program For Poor Children

Jen Chung

Published Apr 11, 2009

Modified Apr 11, 2009

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Jen Chung

Published Apr 11, 2009

Modified Apr 11, 2009

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Earlier this week, the NY Times reported that budget cuts were forcing the Juilliard School to cut its Music Advancement Program, which has been offering mostly free musical training to African-American, Latino, and Native American students (grades 3 through 8). Luckily, the article also sparked concern: Today the NY Times reports there are "numerous offers of help, including a major pledge from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation of Los Angeles."

The program "consists of a two-year core curriculum that includes private lessons, small and large ensembles, music theory, and music history classes, as well as classes dealing with creative musical expression," and costs about $450,000/year to run. The Broad Foundation is pledging $425,000 over four years and Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, who started the program in 1990, says he's contacting interested donors to raise enough money for three to four years, “I did tell everybody that I’m not going to accept a dime until I’m sure I have a million and a half in place. I can’t restart a program and then close it down again.”

Eli Broad said, "I strongly believe that all children, regardless of their economic circumstances, deserve access to quality arts education programs. The Music Advancement Program is a model for bringing musical training to children who would not otherwise have access." In 2005, 60 Minutes' Morley Safer revisited MAP students he had met in 1994 (video); one, Rosie Mora, who attended NYU and University of Vermont for her master's in music, said if she hadn't gone to Juilliard, "I'd probably be in Iraq right now. Before I got involved with Juilliard, I didn’t see college as an option. I never thought I would be able to afford it. So, I thought my only option into getting any kind of profession was joining the Army." And if you're interested in donating to Juilliard, here's more information.

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children

Eli Broad

Joseph Polisi

Juilliard School

Music

Music Advancement Program

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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