EAST LANSING, Mich. — More students across Detroit will now have access to the power of music educationthanks to a $1 million gift from MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU).
Michigan State University Community Music School-Detroit (CMS-D), an outreach arm of the MSU College ofMusic, will use the funds to provide sustainable resources through the new Detroit Regional Engagement andAccess to Music Endowment (MSUFCU DREAM Fund).
“CMS-D is an incubator for artistic excellence and cultivates a diverse and connected community by providingopportunities for lifelong education, college and career readiness, mentorship, and belonging,” said CMS-D
Director Kristopher Johnson. “We need partners who share our vision and are as committed as we are to removingbarriers to music education in Detroit. I am extremely grateful that we have such a supportive partner in MSUFCU.”
At CMS-D, students of any age can engage weekly in high quality and accessible sequential music educationthrough early childhood music, music therapy, group and private lessons, youth ensembles, adult ensembles, andmusic production classes.
“The vibrant cultural legacy within Detroit, combined with access to inspiring music education, is an undeniablerecipe for the continued success of personal development, fostering enriched lives through the power of music,”Johnson said.
CMS-D has had a significant presence in Detroit since opening in 2009. With the MSUFCU DREAM Fundendowment in place, CMS-D will be able to strengthen its subsidized tuition program. Funds will also go towardinstrument loans for CMS-D students in need, an MSUFCU Detroit Arts Leadership Engagement Program, and anannual MSU On the Road at MSUFCU Detroit Concert Series.
The CMS-D funds are part of a $5.5 million commitment from MSUFCU that will advance three MSU art programsover five years and bolster the university’s arts strategy.
“As MSUFCU celebrates 85 years of partnership with MSU, we’re proud of all we have accomplished together onbehalf of campus and community,” said MSUFCU President and CEO April Clobes. “We’re pleased to continue oursupport through these creative and innovative projects that will enhance the lives of our members.
The $1 million gift is part of a $5.5 million commitment from MSUFCU that will advance three MSU art programsover five years and bolster the university’s arts strategy. It is also the latest in a line of significant support fromMSUFCU for MSU College of Music programs.
“Whether it be our highly successful MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program, our career-focused MSUFCUEntrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence program, or other initiatives over the years, the College of Music andthe MSUFCU have an extensive history of creative, effective, and sustainable collaborations,” said College ofMusic Dean James Forger. “The MSUFCU DREAM Fund is a continuation of that strong partnership and will havea significant impact on music education in Detroit.”
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About MSUFCU
Founded in 1937, MSUFCU has a national reputation for excellence and has received several top industry and workplace awards, including being named a Best Credit Union to Work For® by American Banker for the sixth year, a Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press for 12 consecutive years, and a National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® winner for seven consecutive years. MSUFCU has also been certified as a Great Place to Work® for 10 consecutive years and has been recognized by the Credit Union National Association, earning first place for the people-helping-people philosophy Louise Herring Award. MSUFCU is headquartered in East Lansing, Mich., has 21 branches, more than 335,000 members, $7 billion in assets, and nearly 1,100 employees. For more information, visit msufcu.org.
About MSU College of Music
Fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music since 1934, the College of Music at MichiganState University is a national leader and innovator offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in musicperformance (brass, winds, percussion, piano, strings, and voice), music education, music theory, musicology,composition, conducting, piano pedagogy, and jazz studies. From its modest beginning as a regionally respecteddepartment of music to a college that is nationally and internationally acknowledged to be among the best in severalareas of performance and music education, the College of Music welcomes a diverse group of students from 41
states and 17 countries.
About MSU Community Music School – Detroit
Since 2009, the MSU Community Music School - Detroit (CMS-D) has provided high-quality music education andmusic therapy services. Classes are offered for babies through seniors, and everyone in between. Through sequentialmusic study, CMS-D builds 21st century life skills in urban youth and fills a unique niche in the local musiceducation landscape. Lessons are offered at subsidized prices, financial aid is available to those in need, andinstruments are loaned at no cost to registered students.