Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Donors Step Up To Save Juilliard Program For Poor Children
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 11, 2009
Modified Apr 11, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 11, 2009
Modified Apr 11, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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.
Tagged
children
Eli Broad
Joseph Polisi
Juilliard School
Music
Music Advancement Program
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
For a Democrat in a traditionally red NJ district, how to woo Republican voters
The first-time Democrat says it’s still “a toss-up race” between her and incumbent GOP Rep. Tom Kean.
By
Mike Hayes
Published Oct 11, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. ET
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
News
2 pedestrians killed in Bronx crash after driver ran red light, police say
The NYPD said the investigation is continuing and no one had been arrested Saturday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
and
Ann Givens
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .