irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2023
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $2.98MSPECIAL MUSIC SCHOOL OPENED IN 1996 AS A K-8 SCHOOL AND EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2013 TO INCLUDE A HIGH SCHOOL. IT IS NOW THE ONLY NYC K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT FEATURES MUSIC AS A CORE SUBJET. KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER PROVIDES THE ENTIRE MUSIC PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES PRIVATE LESSONS, CLASSES IN THEORY, MUSIC HISTORY, AND CHORUS. FUNDING FOR THE MUSIC PROGRAM COMES ENTIRELY FROM CONTRIBUTIONS TO KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER SINCE, AS A PUBLIC SCHOOL, THIS EDUCATION IS TUITION-FREE FOR STUDENTS. THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC CURRICULUM INCORPORATES TECHNOLOGY, ENTERPRENEURSHIP AND BOASTS A ROBUST ENSEMBLE PROGRAM, INCLUDING CHORUS, ORCHESTRA, WIND ENSEMBLE, BIG BAND, IMPROVISATION, AND CHAMBER MUSIC.
- #2 $2.50MMERKIN HALL IS RENOWNED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE AND DIVERSE PROGRAMMING--FROM EXPERIMENTAL NEW WORKS TO CLASSICAL CONCERTS TO BROADWAY SHOW TUNES AND FAMILY MUSICALS. ITS NEAR PERFECT ACOUSTICS ALLOW FOR THE INTIMACY OF CHAMBER MUSIC AND LARGE ORCHESTRAL WORKS TO ENLIGHTENING DIALOGUES BETWEEN ARTISTS AND AUDIENCE. KAUFMAN MUSIC CENTER'S PRESENTATIONS INCLUDE: THE ECSTATIC MUSIC SERIES, WHICH FOCUSES ON MUSICAL COLLABORATIONS ACROSS GENRES THAT ARE UNEXPECTED, BOLD AND EXPERIMENTAL; TUESDAY MATINEES, WHICH FEATURE THE BRIGHTEST RISING STARS IN THE CLASSICAL MUSIC SCENE; THE BROADWAY CLOSE-UP SERIES WHICH TREATS AUDIENCES TO AN INSIDER'S VIEW OF THE MUSICAL THEATER WORLD; WHAT MAKES IT GREAT WITH ROB KAPILOW, WHICH UNRAVELS AND EXPLORES MUSICAL MASTERPIECES WITH HOST, PERFORMERS AND AUDIENCES ASKING AND FINDING OUT: WHAT MAKES GREAT MUSIC GREAT? THESE FLAGSHIP SERIES ARE A NATURAL FIT FOR THE CENTER'S DUAL ROLES IN MUSIC EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE.
named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Lucy Moses School for Music and Dance
Community music school offering instruction for children and adults in music and dance, including jazz, piano, and ballet programs.
Merkin Hall Concert Series
Presents diverse performances including the Ecstatic Music Series, Tuesday Matinees, Broadway Close-Up, and artist residencies, featuring both emerging and established artists.
Roz Lasker Commissioning Fund
Endowed fund supporting collaborative projects between commissioned composers and students from Special Music School and Lucy Moses School.
Special Music School
K-12 public school where music is a core subject, offering private lessons, music theory, history, and ensemble programs. Fully funded by Kaufman Music Center, making it tuition-free for students.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Arts Education Scholarships 2 activities
- Fund collaborative student-composer projectsFunds collaborative composition and performance projects between commissioned composers and students from Special Music School and Lucy Moses School through The Roz Lasker Commissioning Fund.
- Fund music programs at Special Music SchoolFunds the entire music program at Special Music School through private contributions, ensuring tuition-free access to world-class music education for all students regardless of financial background.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Deliver community music and arts education programsOffers classes and lessons in music, dance, and theater for children, teens, and adults of all skill levels through the Lucy Moses School, including over 30 jazz classes for adults and continuous dance education from early childhood through adulthood via Pre-Ballet and Ballet Company programs.
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Early Childhood Music Education 1 activity
- Launch music immersion programs in NYC public schoolsPartners with New York City Public Schools to deliver music education programs, including a kindergarten program at P.S. 149 in Harlem offering two private music lessons per week plus in-school music theory and chorus, with free access to remove financial barriers.
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Comprehensive K–12 Arts Education 1 activity
- Operate K–12 public school with integrated music curriculumOperates the Special Music School (K-8) and Special Music School High School, the only K–12 public school in the United States where music is a core component of the daily curriculum. Provides private lessons, music theory, history, chorus, and ensemble instruction as part of a full academic program, achieving 100% graduation and college acceptance rates for seniors.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Present public concert series and performancesPresents curated concert series at Merkin Hall including Tuesday Matinees showcasing emerging classical artists, the Ecstatic Music series featuring genre-crossing collaborations, and special performances such as Broadway Playhouse for children and digital concerts developed during the pandemic.
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Performing Arts Venue Rental 1 activity
- Provide accessible performance and event venueOperates Merkin Hall, a 449-seat performance venue on Manhattan's Upper West Side, equipped with ADA-compliant accessibility features including automatic doors, staff-assisted lifts, way-finding signage, aisle lighting, accessible restrooms, infrared listening devices, and access to Steinway grand pianos and a professional recording studio.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$10.80M
Contributions & grants$4.88M45%
Program service revenue$5.28M49%
Investment income$543K5%
Other revenue$94K
expenses
Total expenses$10.86M
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead3%
Fundraising10%
Salaries & benefits$7.79M
Grants paid out$175K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$33.17M
Cash$4.14M
Investments$16.77M
Liabilities$1.37M
Net assets$31.79M
Liquid reserves23.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +24.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 8
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATE SHEERAN | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 50 | $341K |
| EMILY M GRANT | CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER | 50 | $198K |
| JONATHAN SLAWSON | CHIEF DEV OFFICER | 50 | $196K |
| IGAL KESSELMAN | DIRECTOR LUCY MOSES SCHOOL | 50 | $186K |
| DIANNA MESION | SR. DIR. MARKETING & COMM | 50 | $143K |
| JOHN GLOVER | DIRECTOR ARTISTIC PLANNING | 50 | $134K |
| CHRISTINE TODD | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 30 | $129K |
| JOSEPH HARTLEY | DIR. THEATER, SMS ADMIN | 50 | $121K |
board members · 17
- ANGELO ACCONCIA — TRUSTEE (OUTGOING)
- ANN CHUSID — TRUSTEE
- BETHANY MILLARD — VICE PRESIDENT
- CATHY WHITE O'ROURKE — VICE PRESIDENT
- CHRISTINA MASON — TREASURER
- DAMIAN CAVALERI — TRUSTEE
- DANIEL KAUFMAN — TRUSTEE
- DANIELLE DIMSTON — TRUSTEE
- EILEEN SHIN — TRUSTEE
- ELAINE KAUFMAN — HONORARY CHAIR
- EVELYN ERSKINE — TRUSTEE
- GEORGE HAN — TRUSTEE
- GIL SPITZER — TRUSTEE
- IRVING SITNICK — VICE PRESIDENT
- JESSICA ROTHSTEIN — TRUSTEE (OUTGOING)
- JOEL BECKERMAN — TRUSTEE
- JOSHUA BELL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 14
Who they work with
- Barnes & Noble Partner — Co-presents literary events, including author conversations and book launches.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex Partner — Hosts the Special Music School High School on its premises.
- Nadia Sirota Partner — Collaborated on the Living Music: Pirate Radio Edition, which co-presented a reimagined Ecstatic Music concert during the pandemic.
- New York City Department of Education Partner — Cooperates with Kaufman Music Center to operate Special Music School as a public school with a core music curriculum.
- New York City Public Schools Partner — Collaborates to bring music immersion programs to students in Harlem.
- New York City Public Schools Partner — Partnership to launch and implement the SoTru Music School program at P.S. 149 in Harlem.
- Orli Shaham Government — Chair of the Board of Trustees at Kaufman Music Center
- P.S. 149 (Sojourner Truth) Partner — Host site for the SoTru Music School program, where the new music curriculum is being implemented.
- Special Music School Network — K-12 public school operated under Kaufman Music Center that integrates music into the school day.
- Special Music School Partner — Collaborates with Special Music School on commissioning projects that connect composers with students.
- Special Music School Partner — Collaborative educational partnership operating a K–12 public school with music at the core of the curriculum.
- Special Music School (M. 859) Partner — Model for the SoTru Music School program, based on a prior successful partnership between Kaufman Music Center and NYCPS.
- The Strand Partner — Co-presents book launch events with Kaufman Music Center.
- University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music Partner — Co-presents musical programs focused on art song by Black composers.
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.
- Equitable Access through Public-Private Partnershipmethodology: public-private partnership in arts educationBy partnering with the NYC Department of Education to deliver fully funded music education at Special Music School, the organization ensures equitable access and removes financial barriers because institutional collaboration enables sustainable, tuition-free programming for students of all backgrounds.
- Inclusive and Student-Centered Arts Learningmethodology: inclusive_arts_educationBy providing accessible, inclusive arts education across music, dance, and theater with responsive teaching and personalized mentorship, the organization promotes personal growth, artistic initiative, and connection because this approach values individuality, lived experience, and creative exploration for learners of all ages and skill levels.
- Interdisciplinary and Holistic Skill Integrationmethodology: interdisciplinary music frameworkBy using music as an interdisciplinary framework and vehicle for holistic development, students deepen understanding across academic subjects and build transferable life skills such as collaboration, empathy, and creative problem-solving because musical training inherently reinforces cognitive and social domains beyond performance.
- Music as Core Academic Developmentmethodology: core-subject-integrationBy treating music education as a core academic subject rather than enrichment, the organization fosters cognitive, social-emotional, and academic development in children because this integration supports intensive skill-building and focus, persistence, and interdisciplinary understanding.