A Message from BMS Regarding the Corona Virus

Dear BMS Family:

Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the public regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The CDC has asked schools and businesses to prepare for the virus affecting the United States directly. As the Executive Director, I assure you that we are also taking this very seriously.

Currently, our main response is directed toward illness prevention. We encourage our students, families and employees to follow the general illness prevention practices outlined below. We have also vastly increased our cleaning and sanitizing efforts of all classrooms, studios, instruments/pianos, offices and common areas. BMS' maintenance team is working very hard to maintain a clean and safe environment throughout the building and the theater.

As a precaution, we also ask individuals who have recently traveled from affected regions of the world to wait 14 days before returning to BMS.

As this situation unfolds, BMS staff will work closely with the relevant city agencies on all preventative and responsive measures in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I encourage you to monitor news and resources released by the NYC Department of Health, the New York State Department of Health and the CDC.

If you have specific questions, families can reach out to myself or our Operations Manager, Mr. Joe DeMars. The school's number is (718) 638-5660.

As always, the safety of our community is our top priority. We will continue to update you with any new developments.

Piruz Partow,
Executive Director

Have a Blast this Summer at BMS!

Summer Institute

The BMS Summer Music & Dance Institute provides children ages 5 - 8 with a broad introduction to music, dance, and the performing arts at Brooklyn's best and most affordable summer programming.  BMS's seven week program is packed with creativity, fun, and new friendships.

This is the "best-kept-secret" for an affordable and enriching experience for Brooklyn kids, and is designed so that families can choose one week or all seven weeks, to accommodate other summer travel plans. Students get exposed to learning new instruments from BMS's world-class music faculty, learn new dance moves from our dance teachers, and put it all together in performances in the famous BMS theater.

Summer Music and Dance Institute Classes

Depending on the week, the Summer Music and Dance Institute offers students classes in Musical Theater, African Drums, Contemporary Dance, Music FUNdamentals, Drum Rhythmology, Piano, Violin, Ukulele, Guitar, Hip Hop Dance, and more.

Summer Intensives

As part of the Summer Music and Dance Institute, for students ages 9 - 12 we are excited to offer several intensive music and dance courses including: Dance Intensive, Hip Hop Intensive, Orchestra Intensive, Jazz Intensive, and Rock Band Intensive. These courses are tailored specifically to engage older, more experienced students. Rather than sampling a variety of music and dance classes, students have the opportunity to delve deeply into one specific instrument or subject matter.

ARC Music Program Soars with Brooklyn Music School Partnership

It’s been a few months since the kickoff of the ARTS@ARC Music Program with Music Therapist, Melissa Guttman. The ARTS@ARC program has since had four concerts: two at Brooklyn Music School and two out in the community. We checked back in with Melissa on the progress of the program.

ARTS@ARC meets every Tuesday and Thursday at the Flatbush YMCA. The program is part music therapy and part concert practice, though Melissa notes the personal growth benefits have been staggering.

“There is one member who never chose his own solo pieces even though he was a fantastic singer because he was shy. He has chosen two songs for this upcoming performance,” says Melissa. “Another singer used to be quiet and shy; now you can’t get him off the mic. He sings so loudly and passionately. He has completely come out of his shell.”

Music is a cornerstone of ARC Board President Jaimie Blackman’s vision for ARC. It allows individuals to increase their focus on concentration while also being a form of self-expression and emotional release.

While most participants sing and perform, two are focused on instruments and some are interested in soundboard and sound engineering. There is truly a place for everyone! Brooklyn Music School provides professional musicians to fill out the sound during concerts, allowing participants to focus on the particular performance aspect they enjoy most.

In the fall ARTS@ARC hosted a Blackbox concert which allowed the audience to be on stage with the performers in a more intimate, unique setting. In December, ARTS@ARC sang in the Holiday Spectacular which featured performances from multiple Brooklyn Music School groups and was brought to life by the community spirit.

ARTS@ARC also hosts concerts in the community. At Thanksgiving they had a show called “Sing and Serve” sponsored by a City Council Member. They also performed at the Tilden House, a local homeless shelter, this past Christmas. Melissa and ARC leadership are looking to expand the community concert program this year.

So what else is in store? Melissa is hoping as the program grows in popularity, she can creating more opportunities for individual instrumental and vocal instruction.

Since partnering with the Brooklyn Music School on the ARTS@ARC program, there has been an increase in interest so please do not hesitate to contact ARC. To learn more, visit: https://arcny.org/programs-services/artsarc/ or call 718-531-7500.

2020 Middle School Jazzfest

The 2020 Middle School Jazzfest is coming up on March 7, starting at 11:30am in the BMS Theater! We couldn't be more excited to be joined by special musical guest, world-class saxophonist, Paul Nedzela. Plus, performances by the BMS Faculty Jazz Band, Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School, Community Roots Middle School, NEST+M Middle School, Inwood Leadership Academy, and Berkeley-Carroll School!
Admission is $10 suggested donation. We cannot wait to see you there!

The 10th Annual Valentine's Day Concert

Love is in the air! Join us for an evening of songs about romance at our 10th Annual Valentine’s Day Concert on February 15 2020 @ 5pm in the BMS Theater! Music is truly one of the most powerful languages of of the heart. What better way to celebrate love in all of its forms than through song?

This year we are thrilled to be accompanied by a Tulivu-Donna Cumberbatch, an incredibly dynamic Jazz Vocalist whose songs have inspired and entertained thousands over a period spanning 30 years. Ms. Cumberbatch is a native of Brooklyn, New York and the daughter of Harold Cumberbatch, the great baritone saxophonist. She has performed alongside Hannibal Loukumbe John Hicks, The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, Diedre Murray, and Lonni Plaxico to name a few. She currently works with The Baritone Saxophones, Thr Ray Abrams Big Band. The Brooklyn Repertory Ensemble, and her own Magnificent Trio.

Also sharing the bill are several of BMS' ensembles including Motown Mondays, the BMS AC Encemble, the Discount 90’s, BMS Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensembles, Private Lesson students and more!

Admission:
Door - $8
Advance - $5

BMS Musical Theatre Presents Annie KIDS

The BMS Musical Theatre department is proud to present Annie KIDS! Come see the culmination of our talented students hard work during the Fall Semester and enjoy a truly magical performance. We cannot wait to see you there!

The Musical Theatre program at BMS is defined by the philosophy that through teamwork, every child can find their creative voice, combined with intensive training in both acting and vocal performance.

Brooklyn Music School X ARC

Brooklyn Music School is proud to announce that we have entered into partnership with ARC. BMS’s Melissa Guttman is currently leading the ARTS@ARC program.

ARC is now officially joining the Brooklyn Music School family. You will see ARTS@ARC performances on the Brooklyn Music School calendar as they grow their ARTS@ARC program into a monthly concert series, starting with the 2019 Holiday Spectacular on December 21. Come see them perform alongside talented BMS students at 5pm and help us to celebrate the Holiday season with an incredible evening of dance and music. They will be joined by the BMS Youth Orchestra, Groove Ensemble and much more!

ARTS@ARC and Brooklyn Music School are looking forward to expanding their concert series by going on the road to local senior centers and other community venues after the success of this season’s Christmas concert at Tilden House. 

There is so much to look forward in the upcoming year!

For more information about ARC or the ARTS@ARC program, call them at 718-531-7500.

The 2019 BMS Restore & Revitalize Gala was a HUGE success!

Our 110th Annual Restore & Revitalize Gala was an evening that we won't soon forget with an impact that will enrich our future for generations to come. We are so grateful to all who attended and helped to make this year's Gala our most successful and enthralling yet!

Thanks to your contributions, we are thrilled to announce that we were able to raise an astounding $124,000 - that's more than double the total for last year's event! These funds along with the New York State Council on the Arts' contribution of $112,000 will provide students with valuable scholarship opportunity, ensure that we are able to make all necessary renovations to our facilities so that students are able to learn and grow in an environment that reflects the quality of our standard for excellence, and places us well on our way to meeting our fundraising goal for renovating the historic BMS Playhouse!

Here are just a few moments that made this year's Gala unforgettable.

Our Political Honoree Jumaane Williams spoke on the power of supporting Brooklyn Music School and thereby ensuring that all children from all backgrounds have access to the music education that will give their voice the opportunity to be heard.

Our Musical Honoree Captain Kirk Douglas of the Roots and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon spoke to the empowerment of children through music education and how his enriching experience with music from an early a made his journey possible.

Our Special Political Guest Laurie Cumbo spoke on the importance of supporting Brooklyn Music School and ensuring that we are able to provide the space and resources that today's children deserve to cultivate their talents and set them up for success.

Our Special Musical Guests The Resistance Revival Chorus delivered an incredible and inspiring performance evoking power to cause progressive change in the world.

BMS Board Member and Vocalist Sasha Lazard delivered a powerful performance speaking to the importance of addressing social issues.

Have a look inside our most exciting and successful Gala YET!

If you did not get the chance to attend this year's Gala, there's always an opportunity to be a part of the difference Brooklyn Music School makes every day in the lives of so many. Your support is what allows the Brooklyn Music School to fulfill its mission of making it possible for everyone, regardless of their background and resources, to be able to experience the joy of music and the artistic and intellectual benefits of musical performance. Donate today and change a life!

Artist Advisory Board Member Christopher Cerrone Grammy Nomination

We would like to extend a huge congratulations to our Artist Advisory Board member Christopher Cerrone for his Grammy nomination for the category of Chamber Music/Small Ensemble for The Pieces That Fall to Earth with Wild Up and Christopher Rountree! See the article in the Los Angeles Times here.

This is the second year in a row that a member of the advisory board was nominated, as Anthony Roth Costanzo was nominated last year for his debut album ARC.

BMS staged the NY debut of Chris Cerrone's opera All Wounds Bleed in August of 2018 to critical acclaim.

The BMS Artist Advisory Board members volunteer to work closely with BMS students through concerts, master classes, and other events to expose them to artists at the leading edge of their profession, and learn about the life of a professional musician. Learn more about our artist advisory board here.

A Message From the Brooklyn Music School Board of Trustees

Dear BMS students, families and friends,

We are delighted to share some very significant and positive news following the Annual Meeting of the BMS Board of Trustees.

First and foremost, the Board elected Shelby Green as our new Chair. Shelby is a professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and has served as a BMS Trustee since 2018. We are extremely excited to have Shelby at the helm as we work to deliver on our mission of making it possible for everyone, regardless of their background and resources, to be able to experience the joy of music and the artistic and intellectual benefits of musical performance.

Shelby is joined by Peter Bordes and Brian Pope as Vice Chairs, Julia Yu — also a newly elected Trustee — as a treasurer, and Jordan Tamagni as Secretary. You can read their bios (and those of the full Board) here. This is a very strong and diverse team of corporate officers to guide the Board and support BMS going forward.

We are also very happy to tell you that four new Trustees have joined our Board.

Carletta Higginson serves as Director and Global Head of Music Publishing for YouTube and Google Play. She has over a decade of content, media and entertainment-related business with a deep understanding of the music landscape.

Samantha McDonald currently serves as the CFO of Flat World Partners, a next-generation advisory firm focused on impact investing. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading mergers and acquisitions and launching new revenue streams.

Jacqueline Parker is Of Counsel at the law firm of Ballard Spahr, LLP, where she is a senior attorney and expert in financial services law, risk management and legal compliance. She also teaches banking law at Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law.

Julia Yu has extensive experience as a Controller at Fortune 500 companies and as a CFO. She brings more than 20 years of diversified public accounting and capital management expertise, including extensive work advising the BMS Board on how to enhance and simplify the work of the finance team.

Carletta, Samantha, Jacqueline, and Julia will be invaluable members of the BMS Board, expanding our network of partnerships with donors, corporate sponsors and government officials, bolstering our governance and financial management capacity, and deepening our connections in the music industry. We look forward to everything they will bring to the Board as we guide BMS into the future.

In a related matter, the Board unanimously approved a new Diversity and Inclusion Policy, setting a goal of increasing diversity on the Board from around 25% in 2019 to 40% by 2024. Our new trustees greatly add to our diversity and we are well on our way to meeting our goal. Just as important, the Board is committed to inclusion throughout the BMS community, making sure that the different voices and perspectives of all stakeholders are reflected in our decision making and our business practices.

We are also tremendously excited to report that a charitable foundation will donate $100,000 in two installments in 2020 and 2021 to help upgrade our facility and jumpstart our capital campaign. Following last month’s announcement of our exciting new project with the Gotham Organization to develop a new, 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility adjoining our historic home in Fort Greene, this is great news for the entire BMS community. This builds on the $8.4 million in city and state capital that already has been allocated to BMS as a result of the hard work of our Board.

While there are always challenges to overcome and new milestones to work towards, we feel strongly that BMS is on track for a very successful future. Every one of you is an important part of that bright future. Your engagement and support are critical to achieving our goals and delivering on our mission. We thank you for everything you do to make the BMS community the welcoming, inclusive place it is.

- Brooklyn Music School Board of Trustees

Our 110th Annual Gala Auction is Now Live!

And We’re Live!

Though our 2019 Restore & Revitalize Gala is sold out, you can still partake in the excitement! We are pleased to announce that the Silent Auction for our 110th Annual Gala is now LIVE and open to all. Don’t miss out on the fun - you can start bidding RIGHT NOW!

We are very excited to offer such a diverse array of items and experiences. There is something for every budget and taste to choose from. All proceeds go to upgrading the historic BMS Playhouse! So treat yourself and do good at the same time!

Welcome to the Future of BMS!

BMS is Expanding!

We are very pleased to announce that Brooklyn Music School has entered into a partnership with Gotham Group that will lead to a new 20,000 square foot BMS Music and Performing Arts Center that will be wholly owned by BMS and located adjacent to our historic facility on St. Felix Street.

We especially want to thank all those who have lent their support to this project over the past three years, including our NYC Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, our Mayor Bill de Blasio, the leadership of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and our Borough President Eric Adams.

Some of the highlights of the project include:

• The new facility will be constructed without requiring BMS to ever go offline, so we can continue to support our wonderful students and families throughout construction.

• We already have over 85% of the required financing in place and will be launching a new Capital Campaign in 2020 to raise the additional funding.

• The new facility more than doubles our instructional space and provides a home that is fully accessible, safe, and acoustically designed as a state-of-the-art music school.

• It will enable us to add important capabilities such as a new dance and recital space, a Digital Music Lab, a recording studio, and a music video production lab.

• It enhances BMS's mission commitment to core audiences including urban youth, seniors, the disabled, and recent immigrants.

This will be a beautiful and contextual addition to the most historic block in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District and serve as a treasured community resource for many decades to come.

It has taken three years of preparations and fundraising to get to this point and we have hard work before us to obtain all the necessary permits and construct a world-class facility. We will need the support of the entire BMS community to reach our goal.

Anyone who has further questions or wants to help in the effort should reach out to our Real Estate Committee at (646) 652 7185 or sign up here.

Thanks for your continued support for Brooklyn Music School!

Shelby Green
Crocker Coulson
Benjamin Dyett
Richard Roberts
Phil Rutherford
Avery Seavey
Jeffrey Tannenbaum

Brooklyn Music School Real Estate Committee