named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Harmony Explosion Partnership
Collaboration with Harmony Explosion to provide barbershop harmony education and performance opportunities for students
Instrument Repair Workshops
Hands-on training sessions led by expert technicians to teach students and educators how to maintain and repair musical instruments
Music Summit
Annual event offering student workshops, hands-on music instruction, and professional development for educators in Northern New York
Professional Development for Teachers
Training programs for music educators featuring clinicians and experts in various instruments and pedagogy
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 3 activities
- Hosting of annual Music Summit with student and teacher programmingHosts the annual Music Summit featuring group music lessons across 11 instruments led by professional musicians, student-led showcases, and enrichment programs such as Harmony Explosion, serving nearly 400 students from 19 schools in its first year.
- Music practice challenges and community engagement programsOrganizes the March Madness Practice Challenge and similar initiatives to engage student musicians, with over 200 students from 9 schools participating and logging over 200,000 minutes of practice in 2025.
- Provision of digital music lessons through partnershipsRuns a pilot digital-lesson program in partnership with ArtSmart, connecting students in rural areas with world-class musicians for one-on-one, no-cost music instruction.
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Music Education Support 2 activities
- Financial support for student participation in music programs and campsProvides financial support enabling students from Northern New York to attend prestigious music camps and performance opportunities, including the Crane Youth Music Camp, New England Music Camp, and the Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall and Royal Festival Hall.
- Repair and distribution of musical instruments to children in needCollects, repairs, and redistributes gently-used musical instruments to children in Northern New York. Since 2020, over 700 instruments have been distributed.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Professional development and instrument repair training for music teachersHosts regular instrument-repair workshops and clinics for band directors and music teachers, providing professional development and NYS Department of Education credit, in partnership with local experts such as Bill from Cole’s Woodwind Shop.
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Community Music Performances & Education 1 activity
- Provision of music enrichment opportunities and experiences for studentsArranges field trips for K–12 students to attend world-class musical performances across New York, including at Proctors Theatre and Carnegie Hall, and organizes masterclasses and collaborative music-making events with renowned musicians and ensembles.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Establishment of a home base for instrument restoration and music programmingOpening a home base in Ticonderoga in 2026 to restore and store instruments, offer in-person lessons, host repair workshops, and welcome guest artists.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$207K
Contributions & grants$203K98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$4K2%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$191K
Program expenses89%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$91K
Grants paid out$48K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$135K
Cash$135K
Investments$0
Liabilities$2K
Net assets$133K
Liquid reserves8.5 mo
4 years on record · 2022–2025 · YoY revenue +6.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| EVAN MACK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 30 | $54K |
| CHLOE LEWIS | OPERATIONS COORDINATOR | 20 | $27K |
board members · 9
- BETSY KAGEY — SECRETARY
- DONNA WOTTON — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNEE ITURRINO — BOARD MEMBER
- JUDY WALKER — VICE PRESDIENT
- KYLE LANG — BOARD MEMBER
- MICHAEL ITURRINO — BOARD PRESIDENT
- RICK ANTHONY — BOARD MEMBER
- SHELLEY JOYCE — TREASURER
- TODD PRAY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- ADK Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation providing financial support to WAI.
- Abby Lee Miller Partner — Provided a personalized video message to encourage student participants in the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge.
- ArtSmart Partner — Partner in a pilot digital music lesson program connecting students with world-class musicians.
- ArtSmart Partner — Partner organization in a pilot digital-lesson program connecting students with world-class musicians.
- Cloudsplitter Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation providing financial support to WAI.
- Cole’s Woodwind Shop Partner — Collaborates with Bill Cole of Cole’s Woodwind Shop for instrument-repair workshops.
- Crane Youth Music Camp Partner — Partner organization providing world-class music instruction and ensemble performance opportunities for students supported by WAI.
- Dan Stec Government — Provided a personalized video message as a champion for education and regional music programs to encourage student participants.
- Ensemble Connect Partner — Collaborated with Ensemble Connect to provide workshops and collaborative music-making for students at Skidmore College’s Arthur Zankel Music Center.
- Eryn LeCroy Partner — Provided a personalized video message to encourage student participants in the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge.
- Essex County Council of the Arts Funder — Listed as a supporter providing financial contributions to WAI.
- GKV Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation providing financial support to WAI.
- Harmony Explosion Partner — Collaborates with We Are Instrumental to bring barbershop harmony workshops and performances to students at the Music Summit.
- Honors Performance Series Partner — Partner program through which WAI sponsors students to perform at major venues including Carnegie Hall and Royal Festival Hall.
- Isaiah Rodgers Partner — Provided a personalized video message to encourage student participants in the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge.
- Jodie Langel Partner — Provided a personalized video message to encourage student participants in the 2025 March Madness Practice Challenge.
- Leonard Bernstein Partner — Quoted in support of the organization's mission, reflecting alignment with its values.
- Matt Simpson Government — Provided a personalized video message as a local leader and supporter of youth arts to encourage student participants.
- NYS Department of Education Government — Provides professional development credit to teachers participating in WAI's instrument-repair clinics.
- New England Music Camp Partner — Arts partner involved in providing musical enrichment opportunities for students.
- New England Music Camp Partner — Partner organization where students attend summer music programs supported by WAI.
- New York State Government — Approved continuing education credit for music teachers participating in professional development.
- New York State Council on the Arts Government — Recognized as a NYSCA FY26 Grantee, indicating funding and programmatic affiliation.
- Proctors Theater Partner — Provides performance tickets as prizes for winning school in the March Madness Challenge.
- Proctors Theatre Partner — Partnered with Proctors Theatre to provide student access to professional musical performances and masterclasses.
- SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music Partner — Partners with faculty and alumni from Crane School of Music to deliver music education and performance training.
- Skidmore College Partner — Collaborates with faculty and clinicians from Skidmore College for music education programs and summits.
- Skidmore College Partner — Hosted student enrichment events at Skidmore College’s Arthur Zankel Music Center.
- Snow Pond Center for the Arts Partner — Arts partner connected with schools to provide in-person musical experiences for students.
- Stewart’s Foundation Funder — Listed as a foundation providing financial support to WAI.
+ 2 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.
- Financial Access Modelmethodology: financial_access_modelBy providing targeted financial support, we expand access to high-level music education and performance opportunities for underserved students because removing economic barriers enables equitable participation in enriching programs.
- Gamified and Competitive Engagementmethodology: gamified_engagementBy using points-based challenges, leaderboards, and inter-school competitions, we promote consistent music practice because peer accountability, excitement, and school pride increase student motivation and sustained engagement.
- Integrated Music Education Supportmethodology: integrated_music_educationBy simultaneously providing student instruction, instruments, and teacher professional development, we strengthen school-based music programs because building capacity at multiple levels creates a sustainable and high-quality educational ecosystem.
- Local Capacity Building for Sustainabilitymethodology: local_capacity_buildingBy training teachers and building local capacity for instrument maintenance and repair, we increase program sustainability because reducing dependency on external support ensures timely repairs and long-term program resilience.
- Partnership-Based Access Expansionmethodology: partnership_based_accessBy forming regional and national partnerships, we expand access to music education in remote and underserved areas because leveraging existing networks amplifies reach and overcomes geographic and resource limitations.