Dear NMS families and friends,
Congratulations to our Spring Scholarship Award winners! In March, we began the Spring Scholarship cycle by awarding over $38,000 in scholarship awards to 140 students!
The Student Scholarship Program is designed to provide tuition assistance and create opportunities for continued musical development through partnerships, events, and performance opportunities, including the tuition-free Ensemble Program!
The Student Scholarship Program is supported by our funding partners:The Music Man Foundation, Pasadena Showcase House, Eastside Arts Initiative, Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and Individual Donors. Thank you for supporting our students, teaching artists and helping Neighborhood Music School achieve our mission to inspire minds and enrich our community through music education!
We are so excited to invite you to the third installment of NMS: Careers in Music Series: Conductors! This free program is in collaboration with our friends at Disney Music Group, and is open to everyone! Please RSVP by Friday, March 11th! Learn more about our panelists, this program, and watch the first 2 Episodes
here!
When we think about conductors, the first word that comes to mind is leader! Conductors take on the responsibility of leading the orchestra, choir, or group of musicians through the performance work that we see in concert halls, amphitheaters, stage productions, and more. Did you know that that they play a pivotal role in leading orchestras for video games, rock concerts, opera, and so much more?
Join us on Monday, March 14th as we meet Sarah Hicks, Susie Benchasil Seiter, and Enrico Yanez: three exciting panelists who have built incredible careers as conductors and collaborators!
Staffing changes at NMS!
Over the past few months, you may have noticed some new faces in the office at NMS. It is important for us to focus on what our students need to best serve their unique and specific musical journeys, and we are excited to share the folks behind the scenes who are working to ensure that we do so effectively, with purpose, and structured development. Let me introduce you to the new positions at NMS!
Scheduler: Matthew Hernandez
Matthew has been with NMS for many years- as a student, as part of our Jazz Ensemble, as our 2021 LA County intern, and now as our Scheduler. He is focused on placing students with their teaching artist mentors, and serving as liaison between the teaching artist, family and Melissa, or awesome Registrar. Matthew is in the office on Thursdays, Fridays and some Saturdays, as he is also a college student! We are so grateful to have him continue as part of our NMS team!
Grants & Development Manager: Chrysa Kovach joined our NMS team in December of 2021 as the Grants & Development Manager. A performing musician (flute), and with a Master's Degree in Community Music from USC, she brings the perspective of the performing musician, grant-writer, community arts organizer and a great sense of humor to her work here. she also speaks five languages!!! She is in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Director of Program and Evaluation: This position is filled by a very familiar face at NMS: our own Dr. Rafael Liebich! Dr. Liebich has been teaching piano here at NMS since 2012, as well as teaching at El Camino College and the University of La Verne. His focus at NMS will be on the collection, evaluation and tracking the development of our student body and faculty. He will also continue to teach piano at NMS.
Congratulations to NMS students Lauren Bondurant and Sebastian Hernandez!
Last month, The Rotary Club of Los Angeles hosted the Pageant of the Arts Music Competition for High School students and NMS is so proud to recognize that two of our students placed in the final categories! Sebastian Hernandez won 3rd Place in the instrumental category with his piano performance of Clair de Lune, and Lauren Bondurant won first place in the vocal competition with Le Spectre de la Rose be Hector Berlioz! Congratulations, Lauren and Sebastian! We are so proud of you!
Let's Move Together! Yoga with Jeanette is back!
Join us on Saturday mornings and some Wednesday evenings for Zoom Yoga with Jeanette! This is an opportunity for our community to move together, stretch out and give ourselves a gift! Keep an eye on on social media for upcoming dates, and join us on Wednesday, March 9th at 6pm to wind down and relax! This program is free and open to all! RSVP to chrysa@neighborhoodmusic.org, and she will send you the zoom link! Namaste!
Reminders about returning to NMS
At Neighborhood Music School, everyone's safety is our number one priority. We will continue to offer online classes (even after the pandemic) both from the NMS house and the homes of our teaching artists. Everyone inside the house is required to wear a mask at all times.
Please make sure to wear a mask at all times. This is for your safety, the safety of the families at NMS, the staff, and those who live at home with the students, teaching artists and staff.
Please have your temperature checked when you enter the building.
If you are feeling unwell, please stay home. If someone in your direct household is sick, please stay home.
Returning to the NMS house will include the protocols described in the video at the end of this message.
Send in Showtime! videos!
Please keep your Showtime! videos coming! They bring such joy and showcase your awesome development! Please Email videos to office@neighborhoodmusic.org.
Subscribe to our
Youtube Channel and follow us on
Instagram and
Facebook! Each day, we are posting new music and performances on our social media- check it out!
Be well and make beautiful music,
Karen, Chrysa, Melissa, Matthew and Lilly
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Policies and procedures for in-person classes and events:
The following policies and procedures were created with guidance from and direction from City, County and State. If you are unable to comply with theses procedures, we encourage you to enjoy online lessons until the pandemic is under control.
- All students must enter and exit through the back door.
- Students may be accompanied by one adult to enter the building, if they require assistance getting to their classroom.
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We will require all teaching artists and students to wear masks while at the school. This is for the physical and psychological health of all. Until there is a vaccine or successful treatment of COVID-19, we run the risk of infecting the vulnerable without these precautions in place.
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Temperatures will be taken(with a digital, forehead thermometer) upon entering the school. If one is running a fever, they will be asked to return home immediately and seek medical advice.
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Handwashing and sanitizing after using the restroom, and before touching an instrument, will be mandatory.
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Maintaining a social distance of 6 feet or more with all staff, teaching artists and non-familial community is mandatory. Guests and parents are no longer able to observe classes from the inside of the classroom.
