irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $0Bridge program / School Partnership The Unsung Collective partners with NYC schools to provide students with experiences and opportunities to perform alongside professional musicians. Children are provided with transportation, music, rehearsal space, and materials to foster their experience of partnership, mentorship, team-building and professional experience.
- #2 $0Gifts to Inner City and Public - As a Harlem-based ensemble, The Unsung Collective provides performances and musical experiences to inner city areas and the public. This is inclusive of materials, performance equipment, instruments, performance space, and services for music production.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
An Unsung Symphony
Annual concert series featuring works by composers of color such as Jessie Montgomery and Carlos Simon, performed in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic and other ensembles.
Juneteenth Celebration
Annual immersive classical music event honoring Juneteenth, first held at the World Trade Center in 2021 as its inaugural celebration of the holiday.
The Bridge Program
Provides students of color in grades 7–12 with professional experience in the performing arts through rehearsals and performances alongside professional musicians; partners with NYC schools including The Equity Project Charter School, Talent Unlimited High School, and Professional Performing Arts School.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Original Music-Theater and Opera Production 1 activity
- Collaborating on interdisciplinary and contemporary performance artEngages in collaborative, experimental performances such as Max Richter’s Recomposed Vivaldi, Nikita Gale’s "OTHER SEASONS," and Neo Muyanga’s "Hymn to the Strange," often integrating themes of labor, history, and identity, and presented at venues including the World Trade Center, CARA, and Bryn Mawr College.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Operating The Bridge Program for student musical engagementRuns The Bridge Program, which provides students with performance opportunities at prominent New York City venues including the World Trade Center, Empire State Building, and Lincoln Center, as well as participation in music videos and public events to foster artistic development and visibility.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Presenting concerts celebrating composers of color and the Black experience in classical musicOrganizes and presents public performances in New York City and beyond that center works by composers of color, including Carlos Simon, Jessie Montgomery, William Dawson, and Tchaikovsky, often in collaboration with the New York Philharmonic and at historically significant venues such as Harlem’s Mother AME Zion Church and Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church.
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Live Music Performances & Concerts 1 activity
- Producing annual and holiday community music eventsProduces recurring community-focused musical events including the annual "An Unsung Symphony" performance series and the participatory "Songs of the Season" holiday sing-along co-led with members of the New York Philharmonic to support mental wellbeing and community connection.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Providing access to classical music in underserved communitiesBrings live classical music performances and educational opportunities to inner city areas and the public, including free concerts, provision of instruments and equipment, and partnerships with schools to support student participation.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$178K
Contributions & grants$178K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income$850%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$77K
Program expenses42%
Admin / overhead58%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$18K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$219K
Cash$200K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$219K
Liquid reserves31.2 mo
3 years on record · 2021–2023 · YoY revenue +167.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tyrone Clinton | President | 20 | $18K |
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Bethany Collins Partner — Collaborated on performances in New York City and Pennsylvania as part of the America: A Hymnal series.
- Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America Partner — Provides a public platform for The Unsung Collective to present a free outdoor concert in Bryant Park.
- Bryn Mawr College Partner — Hosted a collaborative performance with The Unsung Collective and Bethany Collins.
- Bryn Mawr College Partner — Hosted a residency for performances of The Battle Hymn of the Republic: A Hymnal.
- Center for Art, Research, and Alliances (CARA) Partner — Hosted The Unsung Collective’s inaugural residency as part of Neo Muyanga’s exhibition A Mass of Cyborgs.
- Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble Partner — Collaborated on a performance of choral settings based on poetry by Langston Hughes.
- Facebook Partner — Platform used to share news and announcements
- Fifteenth Street Monthly Meeting of The Religious Society of Friends Partner — Venue host for a performance event in New York, NY.
- GIA Publications Incorporated Partner — Collaborated on an evening of sacred choral music.
- Good Shepherd-Faith Presbyterian Church Partner — Venue host for a collaborative choral performance in Manhattan, NY.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used to share news and announcements
- Monét X Change Partner — Collaborated on the music video Light of a Clear Blue Morning for the #DragIsntDangerous campaign.
- NYC schools Partner — Partnership to deliver music education and performance opportunities to students.
- Neo Muyanga Partner — Collaborated on the A Mass of Cyborgs exhibition at CARA.
- New York City Council Government — Featured The Unsung Collective as performers at the 2024 State of the City Address.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborated with The Unsung Collective in a concert featuring William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony and Jessie Montgomery’s Five Freedom Songs.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborates with The Unsung Collective on musical performances.
- New York Philharmonic Partner — Collaborates with The Unsung Collective on programs including "An Unsung Symphony" and the "Songs of the Season" sing-along.
- New York Philharmonic Orchestra Partner — Collaborated on the New York premiere of Carlos Simon’s Songs of Separation and performance of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem.
- Nikita Gale Partner — Collaborated with The Unsung Collective on the live performance "OTHER SEASONS" for Performa.
- Performa Partner — Hosted The Unsung Collective’s performance in Nikita Gale’s "OTHER SEASONS" as part of its programming.
- Print Center New York Partner — Co-presented performances of Bethany Collins’ America: A Hymnal and Battle Hymn.
- Professional Performing Arts School Partner — Partner school in The Bridge Program, providing students who perform with The Unsung Collective.
- Talent Unlimited High School Partner — Partner school in The Bridge Program, providing students who perform with The Unsung Collective.
- The Apollo Theater Partner — Participated in "A Burning House": MLK and the American Experiment event.
- The Equity Project Charter School Partner — Partner school in The Bridge Program, providing students who perform with The Unsung Collective.
- The Forum at Columbia University Partner — Hosted The Unsung Collective’s Juneteenth classical music event as part of its "Culture on the Corner" series.
- Voices of Ascension Partner — Co-presented a concert with The Unsung Collective exploring music as a bridge between communities and audiences.
- WNYC Partner — Participated in "A Burning House": MLK and the American Experiment event.
- Yale Institute of Sacred Music Partner — Provided support for a concert honoring Langston Hughes featuring The Unsung Collective.
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.
- Canon Expansion through Centering Voices of Colormethodology: canon-expansionBy reinterpreting and recontextualizing Western classical music to center stories and works of people of color, the organization expands the canon and increases representation, because inclusive narratives challenge dominant cultural paradigms and validate marginalized experiences in classical music.
- Community Access through Removal of Structural Barriersmethodology: community-access performance modelBy providing instruments, space, and production support directly within underserved urban communities, the organization increases access to musical experiences, because eliminating logistical and material barriers enables broader participation and cultural ownership.
- Cultural Celebration as Narrative Empowermentmethodology: cultural-celebration-through-artsBy using music to celebrate the Black experience and emphasize emotional narratives like love, joy, and women's influence, the organization counters dominant deficit-based storytelling, because affirming cultural narratives build collective identity and shift public perception.
- Mentorship via Professional Performance Integrationmethodology: mentorship-through-performanceBy integrating pre-college students of color into professional performances alongside established musicians, the organization fosters skill development and career pathways, because real-world experience combined with mentorship increases engagement, confidence, and access to the classical music field.