named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
After-School Program
Offers private, partner, and group lessons in violin, viola, cello, guitar, and piano, along with ensemble participation and monthly recitals for students of all ages.
In-School Program
Provides violin and string instruction within partner public schools in East Harlem, starting in elementary grades and continuing through middle school.
Performance Ensemble
Audition-based ensemble for advanced students who represent the organization at high-profile events and professional venues.
Teacher Training Initiative
Trains aspiring music educators through internships and apprenticeships with master teachers, preparing them to teach in Opus 118 classrooms.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
-
Music Education and Training Programs 2 activities
- Provide comprehensive music instruction to students of all agesOffers weekly private, group, and ensemble music lessons in violin, viola, cello, guitar, and piano to students of all ages through a community music school model. Programs include a 30-week after-school curriculum and serve thousands of low-income children in East Harlem, both in and after school.
- Support student development and academic advancement through music educationUses music education to support students' academic, social, and professional development, with demonstrated outcomes including student admission into competitive academic and music institutions such as LaGuardia High School, Juilliard, Mannes College, Duke, Stanford, and Brown.
-
-
Alumni Community Building 1 activity
- Conduct alumni outcome researchTracks and analyzes alumni outcomes, including continued engagement with music (professionally or personally) and success in higher education and careers across fields such as law, medicine, education, and business.
-
-
Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Deliver teacher training and professional development programsTrains aspiring music teachers through internship and apprenticeship opportunities, a master teacher program, and a Teacher Training Initiative that prepares former students to become instructors; many participants go on to join the faculty.
-
-
Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Organize student performances and recitalsHosts monthly recitals and community performances for students to showcase their musical development, including major performances at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Central Park (with the New York Philharmonic), Mount Sinai Hospital, International House, Columbia Medical Center, Harlem Studio Museum, The Academy of Arts and Letters, and El Museo del Barrio.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$440K
Contributions & grants$320K73%
Program service revenue$120K27%
Investment income$10%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$379K
Program expenses69%
Admin / overhead27%
Fundraising5%
Salaries & benefits$268K
Grants paid out$45K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$80K
Cash$55K
Investments$0
Liabilities$27K
Net assets$53K
Liquid reserves1.8 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +34.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- MARY SOBEL — MEMBER
- NAOMI SMITH — MEMBER
- NICK TZAVARAS — MEMBER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- Abyssinian Head Start Partner — Previously partnered on music education initiatives
- Arnold Steinhardt Partner — Engaged colleagues to organize Fiddlefest benefit concert to support the violin program.
- Artemus Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Blumenfeld Development Group Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Venue for Fiddlefest benefit concert organized to sustain the violin program.
- Central Park East II Partner — In-school partner for music education programming during 2023-2024 academic year
- Central Park East School Partner — Hosted the initial violin program launched by Roberta Guaspari in 1981.
- Children’s Aid Society Partner — Previously partnered on music education initiatives
- D'Addario Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Dorothea von Haeften Partner — Worked to help save the violin program after public school budget cuts.
- EHA Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Edwin Caplin Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Harlem Partner — Close relationship with the Harlem community.
- Harlem Children’s Zone: Harlem Gems Head Start Partner — Previously partnered on music education initiatives
- Harlem YMCA Partner — Previously partnered on music education initiatives
- Isaac Stern Partner — Participated in organizing Fiddlefest benefit concert to support the violin program.
- Itzhak Perlman Government — Violin virtuoso and advisory board member who endorses the organization's impact on youth development.
- Itzhak Perlman Partner — Participated in organizing Fiddlefest benefit concert to support the violin program.
- Kaufman Music Center Partner — Faculty member Lynelle Smith teaches concurrently at Opus 118 and Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School and Lucy Moses School.
- Litwin Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- National Endowment for the Arts Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- New York State Council on the Arts Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- P.S. 30 Rafael Hernandez / Langston Hughes Public School Partner — In-school partner for music education programming during 2023-2024 academic year
- P.S./M.S. 57 James Weldon Johnson Leadership Academy Partner — In-school partner for music education programming during 2023-2024 academic year
- Pinkerton Foundation Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Silver Mountain Foundation for the Arts Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- Studio One Funder — Supports Opus 118 Harlem School of Music through funding
- The Joe Lewis Jefferson Foundation Funder — Participated as a matching donor in the 2024 Matching Campaign Fundraiser
- The Michael and Pamela Miles Gift Fund Funder — Participated as a matching donor in the 2024 Matching Campaign Fundraiser
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Music Education for Holistic Youth Developmentmethodology: music-education-for-youth-developmentBy providing music education, the organization fosters scholastic, social, and personal development—such as creativity, confidence, collaboration, and emotional regulation—because music serves as a transformative vehicle for long-term success and positive youth outcomes.
- Student-Centered Music Instructionmethodology: student-centered_learningBy offering flexible, individualized, and interest-driven instruction—including opportunities to switch instruments and learn in small groups or peer partnerships—the organization increases student engagement and enthusiasm because learning is tailored to personal motivation and developmental needs.
- Teacher Apprenticeship Pipeline for Instructional Qualitymethodology: teacher_pipelineBy training aspiring educators through internships and apprenticeships with master teachers, then integrating them into the faculty, the organization ensures continuity and high-quality music instruction because teaching expertise is systematically developed and retained.