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CENTER FOR IMPROVISATIONAL MUSIC

NEW YORK, NY · EIN 061607805 · Form 990EZ · FY2022 · NTEE A20 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Micro (<$100K) · schoolforimprov.org
revenue
$63K
expenses
$33K
net assets
$32K
employees
mission · from form 990

MUSIC EDUCATION & EDUCATIONAL PERFORMANCES

profile · synthesized from sources

The School for Improvisational Music (SIM) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by trumpeter Ralph Alessi to advance creative and improvised music through immersive educational programs. It offers intensive workshops in New York City that pair serious music students with master musicians for masterclasses, ensemble coaching, private lessons, and performances. The program emphasizes collaborative learning, artistic development, and direct engagement with leading figures in jazz and contemporary music.

named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

SIM Mini Intensive Apprenticeship Experience
Program offering emerging artists mentorship and masterclass instruction from established improvisers, fostering professional development and creative exchange
SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab
Specialized trumpet-focused program led by master trumpeters including Ralph Alessi and Ingrid Jensen, emphasizing improvisation and individual artistic growth
SIM Summer Jazz Intensive
One-week immersive workshop featuring daily masterclasses, ensemble coaching, private lessons, and performance opportunities with world-class improvisers; focuses on artistic development and collaborative music-making
activities · 1 group

What they do

  • Music Education and Training Programs 3 activities
    • Mini Intensive Programs with Specialized Instruction
      Provides short-term, focused programs including specialized trumpet laboratory instruction and apprenticeship experiences, designed to develop improvisational skills through faculty-led workshops and personalized coaching.
    • Music Education and Workshop Programming
      Provides ongoing music education through intensive workshop sessions, including masterclasses, ensemble coaching, performances, and private instruction in improvisation, composition, and technique. Since 2001, the organization has conducted over 20 workshop sessions serving 800 students globally.
    • Summer Jazz Intensive Program
      Offers a week-long summer jazz intensive featuring daily masterclasses, ensemble coaching, performance opportunities, and private lessons for students across multiple instruments. The program emphasizes improvisation through collaborative, immersive group practice and diverse playing contexts including free improvisation, original compositions, and jazz standards.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2022
revenue
Total revenue$63K
Contributions & grants$6K9%
Program service revenue$57K91%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue
expenses
Total expenses$33K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits
Grants paid out
balance sheet
Total assets$32K
Cash
Investments
Liabilities
Net assets$32K
1 years on record · 2022–2022
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
RALPH ALESSI PRESIDENT 2 $1K
relationships · 25

Who they work with

  • Aubrey Johnson Partner — Voice faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Brandon Seabrook Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Chris Lightcap Partner — Bass faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Chris Lightcap Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Dave Ballou Partner — Trumpet faculty member in the SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab.
  • David Virelles Partner — Piano faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Ingrid Jensen Partner — Trumpet faculty member in the SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab.
  • Jacob Garchik Partner — Trombone faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • John Hebert Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Jonathan Finlayson Partner — Trumpet faculty member in the SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab.
  • Kate Gentile Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Matt Mitchell Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Michael Attias Partner — Core faculty member and featured testimonial for SIM Summer Intensives
  • Michael Attias Partner — Saxophone faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Nasheet Waits Partner — Drums faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Patricia Brennan Partner — Vibes faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Peter Evans Partner — Trumpet faculty member in the SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab.
  • Ralph Alessi Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Ralph Alessi Partner — Faculty member and director of the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive program.
  • Ralph Alessi Partner — Founder and trumpeter/composer who established SIM in 2001 and assembled its faculty.
  • Sam Newsome Partner — Saxophone faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Steven Bernstein Partner — Trumpet faculty member in the SIM Mini Intensive Trumpet Lab.
  • Tim Berne Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
  • Tim Berne Partner — Saxophone faculty member in the SIM Summer Jazz Intensive 2026 program.
  • Tom Rainey Partner — Core faculty member teaching at SIM Summer Intensives
strategies · 4

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.