Community Music School Awarded $15,000 NEA Grant for Preparatory Program
March 21, 2018
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $15,000 to the Community Music School of Webster University for its Preparatory Program.
The Art Works category is the NEA’s largest funding category and supports projects
that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence,
public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or
the strengthening of communities through the arts.
“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United
States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to the Community Music School
of Webster University, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant
communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the
quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “At the National Endowment for
the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities
and connections the arts bring.”
Carol Commerford, director of the Community Music School at Webster University said,
"Receiving an award from the National Endowment for the Arts not only allows the Preparatory
Program to continue offering this extremely high-quality program to the most advanced
pre-collegiate musicians in the region, it allows us to bring outstanding programs
to the greater community through master classes, concerts, lectures and special presentations.
In effect, this is an award to the St. Louis music community!"
The CMS Preparatory Program (Prep) is designed to augment the individual music study
of exceptionally talented string, woodwind, brass, and piano students who anticipate
pursuing a career in music. Utilizing the vast artistic resources of the Greater St.
Louis region, including the St. Louis Symphony, area University and other music professionals,
as well as Community Music School and Webster University faculty, the Preparatory
Program offers high caliber instruction, performance opportunities, and artistic mentoring
in one comprehensive curriculum focusing on chamber music.
For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
About the Community Music School
Founded in 1925, CMS offers outstanding music education and performance opportunities
to students of all ages and abilities and serves the entire St. Louis metropolitan
region.
The Community Music School of Webster University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and is a certified
member of the National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts. The Community Music
School receives assistance from the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis.
The Preparatory Program is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment
for the Arts.