named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Mantra Percussion
Flagship professional sextet that commissions and premieres new percussion works and presents immersive evening-length concerts challenging traditional classical formats.
Mantra Youth Percussion
Tuition-free youth ensemble providing high-level performance opportunities and mentorship for underrepresented students in New York City.
Necessary Noise Festival
Annual three-day percussion festival on the east coast featuring workshops, competitions, and concerts for scholastic, collegiate, and professional musicians.
Recap
Professional percussion quartet of BIPOC women alumni from Mantra Youth Percussion, dedicated to representation, equity, and touring new music nationally and internationally.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Organizes The Necessary Noise FestivalHosts an annual 3-day percussion festival on the east coast featuring workshops, competitions, showcase concerts, and clinics; programs over 100 regional ensembles annually and presents works by contemporary composers.
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Commissioning New Musical Works 1 activity
- Produces and presents percussion concerts and premieres new worksCreates, commissions, and performs new works for percussion ensemble; has commissioned or premiered over 100 new works since 2009, including performances at major venues and festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia such as BAM's Next Wave Festival, Bang on a Can Marathon, Mass MoCA, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Provides tuition-free music education and mentorship to youthOffers free percussion instruction and high-level performance opportunities for underrepresented students through Mantra Youth Percussion and other youth ensemble initiatives, with performances at Carnegie Hall, National Sawdust, Juilliard, and Make Music NY Festival.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Records and releases new percussion repertoireProduces and releases recordings of premiere works by contemporary composers, including the debut album "Count to Five" on Innova Records featuring six new compositions.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Supports diverse artistic narratives through ensemble developmentFounded Recap, a percussion quartet from Rahway, NJ, to reflect diverse societal narratives through music, and engages in interdisciplinary collaborations with Indigenous artists, such as during a 2022 tour in Alaska addressing regional cultural, economic, and environmental challenges.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$26K
Contributions & grants$5K18%
Program service revenue$21K82%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$27K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
balance sheet
Total assets$23K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$23K
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -47.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miguel Bolivar | Executive Director | 15 | $2K |
board members · 2
- Joseph Bergen — Educational Director
- Michael McCurdy — Artistic Director
relationships · 37
Who they work with
- American Composer Orchestra Partner — Participated in the orchestra's composition workshop program.
- Amphion Foundation Funder — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- BAM's Next Wave Festival Partner — Presented performances as part of the festival programming.
- Bang on a Can Long Play Festival Partner — Participated in the festival's performance program.
- Bang on a Can Marathon Partner — Featured ensemble performing in the marathon event.
- Bang on a Can’s Found Sound Nation Partner — Collaborated on a 2022 tour in the Kenai Peninsula and Alaskan Beringia regions featuring interdisciplinary artistic work with Indigenous artists.
- Bard College Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Brooklyn Arts Council Funder — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- Chamber Music America Funder — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- Duke Performances Partner — Presented concerts under the performance series.
- GAIDA Festival Partner — Performed at the festival in Lithuania.
- Innova Recordings Partner — Releases debut album "Count To Five" by Recap, a quartet of alumni from Mantra Youth Percussion.
- Juilliard Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Kean Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Manhattan School of Music Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Mass MoCA Partner — Presented performances at the museum’s arts venue.
- Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Partner — Presented a performance at the museum's venue.
- Montclair State University Laptop Orchestra Partner — Participating ensemble in the Necessary Noise Festival
- NYU Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- National Parks Service Government — Provided financial support for a 2022 tour in the Kenai Peninsula and Alaskan Beringia regions featuring interdisciplinary artistic work with Indigenous artists.
- National Parks Service Government — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- Necessary Noise Festival Partner — Presented a concert as part of the festival.
- New Music USA Funder — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- Now Music Festival Partner — Performed at the festival in South Korea.
- Queens College Gamelan Ensemble Partner — Participating ensemble in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Queens Council on the Arts Funder — Provides financial support to Mantra Percussion
- RECAP Partner — Collaborates with RECAP on percussion programs.
- Rowan University Partner — Participating school in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Rutgers World Music Ensemble Partner — Participating ensemble in the Necessary Noise Festival
- Sacrum Profanum Festival Partner — Performed at the festival in Poland.
+ 7 more
strategies · 5
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.
- Equitable Access to High-Level Music Training 150 orgsmethodology: equitable youth music trainingBy providing free tuition for youth music training, the organization promotes equitable access to high-level musicianship and performance opportunities, because removing financial barriers enables participation from underrepresented communities and diversifies the field.shared approach: Equitable Access Through Barrier Reduction →
- Interdisciplinary Cultural Storytelling with Indigenous Artists 150 orgsmethodology: interdisciplinary collaboration with Indigenous artistsBy collaborating with Indigenous artists across disciplines, the organization creates performances that address cultural, economic, and environmental challenges, because integrating traditional knowledge and regional narratives into percussion music strengthens community relevance and deepens artistic impact.shared approach: Equitable Access Through Barrier Reduction →
- Advancing Contemporary Repertoire through Composer Collaboration 148 orgsmethodology: amplifying diverse voices in classical musicBy commissioning and performing new works in collaboration with living composers—especially those from historically excluded communities—the organization expands the percussion repertoire and transforms classical music culture, because centering diverse creators directly reshapes artistic canons and audience expectations.shared approach: Accessible Arts Engagement →
- Community-Engaged Artistic Transformation 148 orgsmethodology: community-driven artistic transformationThrough immersive, evening-length performances and mentorship programs, the organization reshapes the classical music experience and builds inclusive artistic communities, because sustained, collaborative engagement challenges traditional hierarchies and fosters shared ownership of the art form.shared approach: Accessible Arts Engagement →
- Ensemble-Based Music Education with Professional Mentors 48 orgsmethodology: ensemble-based music educationBy training young musicians in ensemble settings alongside professional percussionists, MANTRA PERCUSSION INC fosters high-level musicianship and engagement, because peer and expert modeling in collaborative performance deepens learning and artistic development.shared approach: Artistic Mentorship Through Immersive Practice →