named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Gala
Yearly event honoring major contributors to American song and cabaret, featuring performances and award presentations; includes sponsorship and advertising opportunities
Bill Sensenbrenner Dream Maker Award
Honors leaders in the arts and business communities who support youth cultural development and the performing arts
Cabaret Scenes Magazine
Long-established publication covering the cabaret scene nationally, with regional contributors such as Carla Gordon in Chicago; serves as a key platform for promoting the art form
Education and Outreach Program
Provides music education programs in New York City public schools using classic American music to expand students' horizons and sense of possibility; serves thousands of students annually across all five boroughs
Pomranz Performance Grant
Annual grant sponsored by board president Craig Pomranz to support emerging performers in rehearsing, performing, or recording music from the Great American Songbook
Senior Outreach Program
Brings the music of the Great American Songbook to seniors in New York City communities to enrich their lives through live performances and engagement
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Artist interview series productionProduces and hosts “The Sunday Sessions Series,” featuring monthly or bi-monthly virtual interviews with celebrity artists, ongoing since the pandemic, to connect audiences with performers and provide in-depth artist content for students in ASA education programs.
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Artist Support Grants 1 activity
- Awarding performer grants for Great American Songbook workFunds and presents the annual Pomranz Performance Grant, awarding $5,000 annually to active performers dedicated to the Great American Songbook to support rehearsal, live performance, or music recording.
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Arts Education Professional Development 1 activity
- Capacity building through master artist engagementEngages over 60 master teachers from Broadway and cabaret in its music education programs, leveraging professional expertise to enhance program delivery and student learning.
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Recognition and Awards Programs 1 activity
- Honoring leaders in arts and youth cultural developmentRecognizes leaders in the arts and business communities who invest in youth cultural development and support the performing arts, including through an annual gala such as the 2026 event honoring Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Music education programs in NYC public schoolsConducts educational programs in New York City public schools across all five boroughs, reaching thousands of students annually—specifically over 3,800 students—and offering five structured programs designed for students of all ages and abilities to build confidence, expand vocabulary, and creatively express themselves through the Great American Songbook.
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Literary and Cultural Publishing 1 activity
- Publishing Cabaret Scenes MagazinePublishes Cabaret Scenes, a print magazine dedicated to cabaret music, performers, songwriters, and performance venues, as part of its mission to promote the Great American Songbook.
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Live Music Performances for Seniors and Isolated Populations 1 activity
- Senior concert and enrichment programOrganizes and funds live musical performances by professional artists in cabaret, musical theater, and jazz for senior audiences across all five boroughs of New York City, including provision of sound equipment and keyboards, and facilitates artist engagement with seniors; provides free concerts to enrich seniors’ lives.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$143K
Contributions & grants$119K84%
Program service revenue$19K13%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$630
expenses
Total expenses$164K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$88K
Grants paid out$10K
balance sheet
Total assets$11K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$2K
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -4.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FRANK DAIN | TREASURER | 50 | $40K |
| CAROLYN MONTGOMERY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $40K |
board members · 4
- CARLA GORDON — DIRECTOR
- ELLEN AUWARTER — DIRECTOR
- KEITH MERITZ — DIRECTOR
- SANDRA KITT — DIRECTOR
relationships · 8
Who they work with
- Bill Sensenbrenner Partner — Primary fundraiser and board member who significantly advanced the ASA's education program and mission.
- Cabaret Scenes Network — Co-branded recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award; affiliated publication.
- Cabaret Scenes Partner — Collaborates with Cabaret Scenes on the annual gala and co-branded publications
- Cabaret Scenes Partner — Features artists from Cabaret Scenes magazine covers in the Sunday Sessions Series.
- Cabaret Scenes Magazine Network — Publishes Cabaret Scenes magazine as part of its programming to promote the American Songbook.
- Carolyn Montgomery Partner — Executive Director who hosts "The Sunday Sessions Series" featuring celebrity artists.
- Frazza Family Foundation Funder — Donor at the Producer level ($3,000 – $7,499)
- The Kopf Family Foundation/Deborah C. Anderson Funder — Donor at the Star level ($10,000 – $14,999)
strategies · 3
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.
- Arts Access for Wellness and Dignity in Aging Populationsmethodology: arts-for-wellnessBy bringing live musical performances and artist interaction to seniors in under-resourced care facilities, the organization improves mental health and quality of life, because personalized, high-quality cultural engagement affirms dignity and combats isolation among elderly populations.
- Cultural Education Through Music to Expand Student Potentialmethodology: cultural-education-toolBy using classic American popular music as an educational tool, the organization enhances student confidence, vocabulary, self-expression, and sense of possibility, because culturally resonant music increases engagement and provides accessible pathways for developmental growth without requiring performance training.
- Music as a Catalyst for Personal and Social Transformationmethodology: music-as-catalystBy engaging individuals with the Great American Songbook, the organization fosters personal growth, cross-cultural connections, and social cohesion, because music creates shared emotional experiences that reduce conflict, build camaraderie, and strengthen identity.