OUR MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES
We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families, and communities.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to deliver access to the benefits of high-quality, tuition-free music education. Through intensive instruction and performance, our students achieve excellence in music that transfers to other areas in life. They grow musically, socially, emotionally and intellectually, and develop a foundation of responsibility, self-esteem, resilience and purpose.
OUR VISION
The People’s Music School envisions a society where all children have access to the unique social, emotional, intellectual benefits achieved through musical excellence. We believe music is transformative and empowers the lives of youth, families and communities. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Rita Simó, a Juilliard-trained pianist from the Dominican Republic, the legacy of tuition-free music education began in a repurposed barber shop, until a vacant lot on a residential block in Uptown eventually became its permanent home.
OUR VALUES
We provide opportunity.
Access to the benefits of music, regardless of socio-economic status or previous training
We cultivate excellence.
High musical achievements reflected in all areas of life
We work hard.
Focus, discipline and resilience required in everything we do
We nurture creativity.
Innovative problem-solving sparks critical thinking
We embody community.
Resourceful, diverse, welcoming community fully invested in common purpose
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY
At The People’s Music School, we serve students and families from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds (over 85% of our students are of color). We celebrate diversity as a fundamental strength of our organization. Our full potential relies on building the people and practices that reflect the communities we serve. We commit to role-modeling an ongoing commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion is of highest priority, and we are accountable at every level starting at the top.
We invest to ensure equal opportunity to transformational opportunities.
We believe all types of music can have educational value, and 50% of the repertoire our students learn will be composed by underrepresented groups across multiple genres.
We will elevate underrepresented voices with our own, particularly in how we partner with artists, mentors, suppliers and more.
Every team is diverse, from Board to Leadership Team to every staff team to every site team.