PHILADELPHIA MUSIC ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH
The Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth (PMAY) is a collaborative of organizations in the Philadelphia region dedicated to providing music education, performance and enrichment opportunities to youth. The collaborative started in 2012, and its members share a commitment to improving communities through the regular study of music. Project 440 is a proud member of PMAY and thrilled to be collaborating with such incredible organizations.
The PMAY Artists’ Initiative is a project that supports 5th-12th grade students from underrepresented communities and low-income households to pursue their dream of becoming a professional classical musician. The PMAY Artists’ Initiative offers young musicians financial support to make lessons, music classes, youth orchestra participation, and summer music camps affordable. As a PMAY artist, students attend free college and career preparation workshops, and PMAY teachers and staff work with each family to ensure that each musician has an instrument and a strong plan in place for acceptance into a conservatory, college or university majoring in classical music. PMAY was established to address a major issue in American classical music. Fewer than 5% of musicians in professional American orchestras are African American or Latino, and the number of South Asians, Pacific Islanders, American Indians, and Alaskan Natives are similarly low. Yet the cities that support these orchestras are racially and ethnically diverse. Philadelphia is the first city in the nation to address diversity in classical music on a city-wide level and aims to change the face of classical music throughout the country.
The PMAY Artist's Initiative participating organizations are Musicopia, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Philadelphia Sinfonia, Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, Project 440, The School District of Philadelphia, Settlement Music School and Temple University Music Preparatory Division.
