Equitable Access Through Barrier Reduction

Offers music education programs targeted at youth with limited access or resources, aiming to serve those with the greatest need.

Organizes CHAMPS, an informal group that creates opportunities for amateur musicians in the Central New York community to play chamber music together.

Provides performance opportunities for local professional and youth musicians by hosting free pre-concert events, such as the CASEY Wind Quintet performance prior to a Salix Piano Trio concert and performances by the Meridian String Quartet for the Board of Directors.

Provides free tickets to current students and EBT/SNAP holders with valid ID for its subscription concert series, increasing accessibility to chamber music performances.

Presents a seven-concert chamber music season annually from September through May, featuring international and professional ensembles such as the Pacifica Quartet, Juilliard String Quartet, and Dover Quartet. Concerts are held at venues including Grant Middle School in Syracuse, NY, and include program books and ticketing for subscribers.

Organizes and sponsors an annual competition for student ensembles in grades 7–12 from Central New York, offering prize money of $100 per musician and coach, and potential performance opportunities at subscription concerts. The 2026 competition was held at Park Central Presbyterian Church with participants from Syracuse and Rochester areas.

Funded supplies and T-shirts for band and orchestra students at Grant Middle School, commissioned a new composition for the school’s combined orchestra and band, and sponsored a free Young Artists Concert in July 2025 featuring young local musicians performing with a professional orchestra.

Provides support to teachers and administrators to foster student engagement and development in the arts.

Provides funding and facilitates community-school collaboration to support the choral and drama programs at Phoenix Central School District.

Provides financial and other support to the local high school band and color guard program.

Provides tuition-free music education to children in New York City.

Reduces financial barriers to participation by awarding over 50 scholarships annually to local students and offering a membership program that provides a 20% tuition discount and supports mission-based programming through donations and matching gifts.

Offers art, dance, education, fencing, and culinary arts classes and workshops for children and adults, including fall sessions and specialized instruction in ceramics, music, and literature. Accepts proposals from instructors to expand programming.

Hosts community events such as a celebration of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and legacy, fostering community connections through shared artistic and cultural experiences.

Operates the Houghton Gallery as a dedicated space for temporary and community-focused exhibitions, curating six shows annually, including faculty and student work, pop-up collaborations, and themed exhibitions like 'Refracted: Glass in Community.' Hosts free public opening receptions and displays artwork from summer camp participants.

Provides studio space for private music instruction and open ceramics studio access to adults who have completed qualifying coursework, supporting ongoing artistic practice and community use of facilities.

Provides summer enrichment camps for youth ages 6–16, offering programming in ceramics, multi-arts, dance, theater, culinary arts, and fencing, designed to expand creative skills and foster social connections.

Provides tuition scholarships for studio and online classes, including full-tuition awards for youth aged 11–21 based on eligibility criteria. Offers named scholarships such as the Richard McDaniel Scholarship for committed fine arts students and the Logan’s Legacy Scholarship for working women.