History of Joy of Music Program

The Joy of Music Program was founded in the fall of 1986 by its current director as a program of music & movement classes for preschoolers. In November 1989 JOMP was incorporated as a non-profit organization to meet the growing demand, to raise funds for financial aid, and to develop a lasting community music school. The school has an annual enrollment of over 500 students from infants to 80+ and a faculty of 46.

In June 2000, JOMP was seriously impacted by a fire at the church where it was a tenant. The school had to relocate, resulting in substantial loss of space. For 18 months the school faced the enormous challenge of continuing operations while spread out in three churches. In December 2000, the Joy of Music Program embarked on its first capital campaign and, with generous community support, succeeded in purchasing its own building. Renovations started in April 2001, and on January 3, 2002, the school opened in its new site. A vacant, rundown building is now a beautiful cultural resource for the community.

Our mission is “to foster community through accessible music education and performance.” Financial aid is key to this mission. Generous donations to our Financial Aid Program from many individuals, foundations and corporations, as well as students who gather sponsors to raise funds for JOMPATHON, make it possible for about 20% of our student body to study at JOMP. This year’s fundraising goal for financial aid is $105,000.

Community Recognition
* Catalogue for Philanthropy (1997 & 2006) ~ “ . . . a gem of a community school.”
* YWCA of Central Massachusetts ~ “ . . . a cultural treasure in the community.” Director Wendy Ardizzone received the 2002 Katharine F. Erskine Award in Arts & Humanities.
* Worcester Telegram & Gazette ~ ". . . excellence and community spirit." JOMP received the 2005 Visions Award for Cultural Enrichment
* Rainbow Child Development Center ~ “…above and beyond in providing … special opportunities…”

2008 “Pot O’ Gold” Award

On all four occasions, JOMP’s remarkable commitment to financial aid was recognized.

JOMP alumni majoring in music have been accepted at some of the nation’s finest music schools, including New England, Oberlin and Peabody Conservatories of Music; Eastman, Hartt, Juilliard, Longy, Manhattan, Moores (U. of Houston), Schulich (McGill), Thornton (U.So.Cal) and University of Michigan Schools of Music; Berklee College of Music; Boston University College of Fine Arts; Dave Brubeck Institute of the U. of the Pacific; California Institute of the Arts; New School of Jazz (NYC); Duquesne, New York, Northern Illinois and Syracuse Universities; UMass Amherst and University of New Hampshire.

Many JOMP alumni not majoring in music seek schools with strong music departments and actively continue their music as members of college orchestras, jazz ensembles, bands and choruses across the country, including Amherst, Barnard, Boston, Dartmouth, Holy Cross, Middlebury, Oberlin, Smith, St. Olaf, Swarthmore, Vassar and Wheaton Colleges; Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Northeastern, Notre Dame and Stanford Universities; the Universities of Chicago, Richmond and Vermont; and WPI.

Our students are also being accepted by first-rate summer programs, including the Tanglewood Institute, Eastman Summer Jazz Studies, Killington Music Festival (VT) and Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music (NH).

Current Outreach Programs
* Drumming for neighborhood 10-12 year olds through Worcester’s East Side Community Development    Corporation at JOMP starting in October 2010.
* Drumming and Singing at Burncoat Family Center (Community Healthlink) for 5-18 year old clients in a    residential mental health emergency crisis center (’08 -’10).
* Elder Drumming at the Lutheran Home led by volunteer Ruth Temsky since 1998.
* Rainbow Child Development Center Drumming for afterschool children at JOMP.
* Drumming and Creative Art for the Therapeutic After School Program (TASP Community Healthlink)       serving young people with mental health challenges.
* Creative Arts (Dance, Singing and Drumming) for adolescent girls from Grace House (Community    Healthlink) in recovery and treatment for alcohol and substance abuse (2005 - 2008). We are    seeking funding to resume in 2010-2011.

Community Performances

Faculty and students present 60 to 70 performances a year, reaching a combined audience of 10,000 - 12,000. In addition to recitals at JOMP, students play at local festivals, First Night Worcester, corporate events, retirement communities, annual meetings and other non-profit functions, as well as many other community events and benefits. Faculty members perform on our Faculty Recital Series and in 15 - 30 Worcester Public Schools each year through “Music- to-Go,” funded by the Music Guild of Music Worcester and the Music Drives Us Foundation.

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To Read Reviews of Joy of Music from Great Nonprofits, CLICK HERE