Community Music Center of Boston

CONTACT:

34 Warren Avenue
Boston, MA 02116
617-482-7494
www.cmcb.org

David Lapin, Executive Director

DESCRIPTION:

The Community Music Center of Boston began in 1910, when the Boston Music Settlement School was established for immigrant children—the first of its kind in New England. Soon the South End Music School was created to teach immigrant children in that neighborhood. In 1968 these two schools were merged as CMCB, to provide first-rate music instruction to underserved children generally. In 1971 they moved to the Boston Center for the Arts, with activities dispersed around the city and schools. Last year they taught over 5,000 students, 600 weekly. One-third are on scholarships totaling $110,000. Their Intensive Study Project, begun in 1987, prepares economically disadvantaged but exceptionally talented youngsters interested in music, for serious study at conservatories or colleges with strong music programs. They help compensate at the community level for the chronic under-representation of Boston youths in regional student ensembles. CMCB provides everything a privileged child might have and then some — private lessons, performance classes and opportunities, ensemble coaching, instruction in composition and music theory, plus exposure to Master artists in lectures and/or performances. Wouldn’t you enjoy supporting this?

(2006: CULTURE: Arts: Education)