NEIGHBORHOOD MUSIC SCHOOL (NMS) is the largest independent not-for-profit community arts school in Connecticut. Its mission is to provide the highest quality instruction in music and dance and to make it accessible to people of all ethnic and economic circumstances.

History: Neighborhood Music School was established in 1911 as part of the settlement house movement to assist New Haven's new and growing immigrant population. It became an independent, non-profit corporation in 1950 and flourished for many years on lower Chapel Street in the Wooster Square neighborhood. In response to regional growth and expanding enrollment, NMS built its own 30,000 square foot facility (with 33 studios, practice rooms, recital hall, & library) on Audubon Street in 1968, becoming the first arts organization in the city's Audubon Arts District. In addition to this main facility, NMS holds weekly classes at three public school sites, two private schools, and at branches in Guilford and in Woodbridge.

NMS is one of the 10 largest community arts schools in the nation!

• Number of students served each year: 3,000 (2,600 at NMS & an additional 400 in "partnerships")
• Ages of students: 6 months to 80+ years
• Number of cities & towns in Connecticut with students at NMS: 79
• Number of individual visits to NMS each year: 90,000
• Number of artist/educators on the faculty: over 120
• Number of students receiving financial aid at NMS & in partnership programs: over 700

Programs: NMS recognizes the significant impact of arts education on lifelong cognitive development, beginning in the early years of childhood. The School's extensive program includes:

• Instruction in 30 instruments, Suzuki Instruction, and voice
• One of the largest Ensemble Programs in the country (including the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and the NMS Children's Chorus)
• A Dance Program featuring Ballet, Hip Hop, Modern, Salsa
• Early Childhood Arts Education including a state-certified Pre-School Program
• A Jazz Program
• Adult Programming
• Youth & Adult Drama Classes
• Instruction in Non-Western Instruments: African drums and steel band
• Summer Arts, Theater, Band, and Jazz Camps
• Over 300 public concerts, jazz jams, recitals, master classes, seminars, and workshops annually at NMS and in the community

Partnerships & Collaborations: As an active member of New Haven's arts community, Neighborhood Music School strives to increase public participation in arts activities through partnerships and collaborations with a variety of area organizations including:

• International Festival of Arts & Ideas
• LEAP (Leadership, Education & Athletics in Partnership)
• New Haven Public Schools
• Neighborhood Place/Yale Child Study Center
• Southern Connecticut Library Council
• United Cerebral Palsy
  

Board of Directors 2007-2008:

• President: Alayne Mouradian
• Vice-President: Benjamin Kerman
• Vice-President: Leon Plantinga
• Vice-President: Hedda Rubenstein
• Vice-President: Christin Sandweiss
• Secretary: Anne Curtis
• Treasurer: John Lang
• Immediate Past President: Carol Ross
  
  
• Burton Alter
• Mary Boyle
• Linda Burt
• Joan Campbell
  
• Vickie Cohen
  
• Anne Curtis
• J. Edward Diamond
• Susan Forster
• Caroline Hendel
• Dorsey L. Kendrick
• Benjamin Kerman
• John Lang
• Thomas Masse
• Arlette Miller
• Alayne Mouradian
• Matthew Peterson
• Leon Plantinga
• Carol Ross
• Hedda Rubenstein
• Marc Rubenstein
• Christin Sandweiss
• Joseph Schiffer
• Stephanie Spangler
  

Sounding Board

• Frances "Bitsie" Clark
• Lynn Fusco
• Richard Lalli
• Jane Levin
• Willie Ruff