Who We Are
The Declaration on Equity in Music for City Students is derived from the 2017 Symposium on Music in Schools, held at the Yale School of Music June 15-17, 2017. We are honored to recognize the influence of the symposium’s forty-three participants—before, during, and after the event—including ten Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award recipients who represent exemplary city music programs. We also invited leaders from across urban music ecosystems: music education scholars, foundation leaders, district music supervisors, city superintendents, individuals with expertise in urban affairs and political action, and leaders of non-profit music organizations that provide services to city children. To a person, each participant has helped shape the declaration as it stands today. The Yale School of Music is indebted to each of these remarkable individuals whose passion for the lives of students in underserved communities will have lasting impact.
Participants
Alandra Abrams, music educator (general music, choir, and music technology), Philadelphia Public Schools
Carlos R. Abril, Professor of Music Education, Director of Undergraduate Studies in Music Education, Frost School of Music, University of Miami
Luke Anderson, middle school humanities teacher, The Gordon School (Providence, RI)
Rita Black, music educator (choir and general music), Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Mike Blakeslee, Executive Director and CEO, National Association for Music Education
Robert Blocker, The Henry and Lucy Moses Dean of Music, Professor of Piano, Professor of Management (affiliate), Yale University
Adam Brooks, music educator (band), Atlanta Public Schools
Monique Brusca, music educator (band and string orchestra), Los Angeles Unified School District
Kriner Cash, Superintendent, Buffalo Public Schools
Nathan Cohen, music educator (band and string orchestra), Trenton Public Schools
Jesús Cortés-Sanchez, music education student, University of Connecticut; graduate, Music in Schools Initiative; summer intern, Yale School of Music
Lara Davis, Arts Education Manager, Seattle Office of Arts & Culture
Henry Donahue, Executive Director, VH1 Save The Music Foundation
Thomas C. Duffy, Professor (adjunct), Yale School of Music & Director of University Bands, Yale University
Francisco Escobedo, Superintendent, Chula Vista Elementary School District
Chiho Okuizumi Feindler, Senior Director of Programs and Policy, VH1 Save The Music Foundation
Kate Fitzpatrick-Harnish, Associate Professor of Music Education, University of Michigan
Arlene Goldbard, writer, speaker, activist, and consultant; Chief Policy Wonk, U.S. Department of Arts and Culture; President, The Shalom Center
Nola Jones, Director of Visual and Performing Arts, Music Makes Us, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
Aldie Lopez-Rios, music educator (band and general music), Roosevelt Elementary School District (Phoenix, AZ)
Frank Machos, Executive Director, Office of The Arts & Academic Enrichment, School District of Philadelphia
Ellen P. Maust, Performing & Visual Arts Supervisor, New Haven Public Schools
Constance L. McKoy, Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in Music, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Jessica Mele, Program Officer for Performing Arts, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Jeff Midkiff, music educator (string orchestra), Roanoke City Public Schools
Corina Miller, music educator (choral and classroom music), Minneapolis Public Schools
Bob Morrison, Founder and CEO, Quadrant Research
Denese Odegaard, President and Board Chair, National Association for Music Education
Robin Paige, music educator (choral and general music), Baltimore City Public Schools
Myran Parker-Brass, Executive Director for the Arts, Boston Public Schools
Dantes Rameau, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Atlanta Music Project
Nicole R. Robinson, Professor of Music Education, Associate Vice President for Equity and Diversity, University of Utah
Rubén Rodríguez, Director, Music in Schools Initiative, Yale School of Music
Jaclyn Rudderow, Program Director, VH1 Save The Music Foundation
Sebastian Ruth, Founder and Artistic Director, Community MusicWorks; Visiting Lecturer in Community Engagement, Yale School of Music
Dalouge Smith, President and CEO, San Diego Youth Symphony and Conservatory
Dan Trahey, Artistic Liasion, OrchKids, Baltimore Symphony; Founder and Director, Tuned In, Peabody Institute
Lynn Tuttle, Director of Public Policy and Professional Development, National Association for Music Education
Larry Ward, music educator (band), Houston Public Schools
Tarik Ward, Director of ELMA Music Programs, ELMA Philanthropies Services
Richard Wenning, Executive Director, BeFoundation; Co-founder, SpreadMusicNow
Michael Yaffe, Associate Dean, Yale School of Music
Observers
David Brensilver, Communications Officer, Yale School of Music
Thomas Chittenden, member of the Yale College Class of 1957
Rachel M. Glodo, Assistant to the Associate Dean, Yale School of Music
Jocelyn Hernandez, music education student, Western Connecticut State University; graduate, Music in Schools Initiative; summer intern, Yale School of Music
Phil Richards, member of the Yale College Class of 1957
Lauren Schiffer, Program Manager, Yale School of Music
Stephen Wittenberg, member of the Yale College Class of 1957
Esther Woo, Administrator, Music in Schools Initiative, Yale School of Music
