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HISTORY
AND MISSION |
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 17 pianos. In 2004, Bloomingdale School of Music celebrated its fortieth anniversary. Today the school serves over 1,100 students weekly and opens its doors to thousands more through the concert presenting program. Serving the Upper West Side and, increasingly, all of the boroughs of New York City, Bloomingdale School of Music's mission is to provide access to high-quality music education to anyone who seeks it, regardless of economic status, ability level, ethnicity, or religious affiliation. Bloomingdale's mission reflects two overarching principles—quality and access. Quality is achieved through the school's outstanding faculty. Bloomingdale faculty are active performing artists with advanced degrees from the world's top conservatories. 75% hold advanced degrees. They are devoted teachers who give all they can to their students regardless of a student's ability or level of accomplishment. Consideration for hiring a new faculty member includes mastery of his/her instrument, ability to teach, and a real sense of his/her commitment to teaching. Access is achieved through Bloomingdale's generous financial aid program. According to the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, financial aid is, on average, 5.9% of a school's overall budget. At Bloomingdale that number is 10.7%. The same study reports that, on average, 16% of students attending community schools of the arts nationwide receive financial aid. at Bloomingdale, that number is over 25%. Last year, over $150,000 in financial aid was awarded to 150 people, an all-time record. |
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323 West 108th Street · New York, NY 10025 · (212) 663–6021 · Contact Us |
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