HISTORY AND VALUES

HISTORY & MISSION

Bloomingdale School of Music's mission is to provide open access to high-quality music education to anyone who seeks it, regardless of economic status, ability level, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. Founded in 1964 by David D. Greer, then organist and choirmaster of the West End Presbyterian Church, Bloomingdale School of Music began as a part-time school offering music classes on Saturday mornings for as little as 50 cents to low-income community residents. Within two years, registration jumped from 75 to 200. Local residents showed such interest that Mr. Greer was able to form a Board of Directors and bring together a skilled faculty. Together, they succeeded in raising public and private funds to expand Bloomingdale's program and, in 1971, to purchase and renovate the brownstone located at 323 West 108th Street, which is now the school's home. In 1980, the school purchased a rental building located at 325 West 108th Street and renovated the basement area for badly needed office space.

In 1973, Bloomingdale became the first community music school to offer free weekly classes to public school children. The Orff Schulwerk program became a model for many of the programs that followed it. In 1989, Mr. Greer resigned as director, due to illness and Mr. Paul Fran became director. Lawrence Davis, the current director, was appointed in 1991, after Mr. Fran's untimely death. In 1996, the school launched the Piano Campaign, and raised funds to completely renew and restore the school's pianos.

In 2004, Bloomingdale School of Music celebrated its fortieth anniversary. In 2009 Bloomingdale established an endowment fund successfully meeting a challenge grant from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust.