Dear Friends & Donors
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Asheville Music School continues its nonprofit mission of bringing music education and healing to our community, but we need your help.
While we have worked diligently to reopen, so that our dozens of teachers can resume lessons and bring music back to the hundreds of students that we serve, the storm has left many families struggling. We are not back to 100% yet, as some remain out of town or simply don’t have the economic resources to continue lessons. Like many other area nonprofits, we are facing the economic impacts and significant fundraising challenges on all fronts — funding for our scholarship and outreach programs, as well as economic loss impacting our operating costs from the temporary closing.
This is the time of year when we normally hold in-person fundraising events. This includes a silent auction that was scheduled to support AMS programs and outreach to our community. Unfortunately, the businesses that have been our major partners (and even the business in the River Arts District that was to host our silent auction) are struggling or no longer exist. This is why we are requesting your support to help us fully bring the music back, so that we can continue to bring the healing power of music to our community.
Your generous donation will support our scholarship program, outreach program, and general operations.
Our end-of-year fundraising goals reflect only a portion of our annual fundraising, as we do intend to continue our spring fundraising efforts. If you have ever been impacted by the power of music, are a friend of our amazing community of students and teachers, and love the work we do, please consider giving to help us reach our end-of-year goals.
We welcome donations of any amount, because every little bit helps. We offer easy recurring ways to donate if you’d like to donate monthly. And we are able to accept legacy gifts as well. Your donation will have an impact that extends throughout our community – to not just students, but to parents and teachers, veterans and many other underserved populations, and to our local economy as well.
To inquire about a recurring or legacy donation, please email Executive Director Ryan Reardon at ryan@ashevillemusicschool.org
“Music didn’t just change my life, it transformed it. Without music, I wouldn’t have my best friends, that I can relate to more than anyone else my age.” Cadence Corcoran, AMS student, age 14
“The act of playing music became a form of therapy, where I could channel my pain and frustration into something beautiful.” Aiden Mitchell, AMS student, age 14
Your generous donations support these programs
Music Scholarship Program
Through our Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, we have awarded over $100,000 in needs-based scholarships for music lessons. It is a core part of our mission of keeping music education accessible to all. All the funds we raise for this program help pay our teachers (by supplementing costs to the student), while supporting the school and our local economy.
End-of-Year Fundraising Goal: $9,250
Your generous donations help us meet the rising demand for both the Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund and the Sean Mason Memorial Scholarship.
Sound Education Outreach
Also funded through our Paul Thorpe Music Education Fund, our Sound Education Outreach program includes a roster of rotating student ensembles, soloists, and faculty that perform for free at community sites, and for underserved and under-represented members of our community.
This program also provides important life lessons to the performing students, who reap the social benefits and personal development inherent in such an undertaking. Students can experience the pride and satisfaction that comes with contributing to the greater community.
End-of-Year Fundraising Goal: $7,500
Professional Educators & Artists
Each year, hundreds of students of all ages and abilities count on AMS for affordable, high quality private music lessons, ensembles, workshops and summer camps. Approximately 40-50 professional teachers count on AMS for an affordable place to teach. We are helping teachers earn a viable living by keeping rent costs low; a savings they are able to pass on to their students.
Operations
Asheville Music School operates with a very small part-time staff that carry out the great work of running the school. This includes:
- Student enrollment
- Teacher retention
- Managing the scholarship and outreach programs
- Planning and running our large summer camp program. program.
There are overhead costs as well for our beautiful school. Without all of this, the school cannot exist.
End-of-Year Fundraising Goal: $8,250
Next Generation of Asheville Music
Studying music builds confidence and promotes team-building – both of which are crucial life skills. We realize that the positive social impacts of music study are critically valuable to the youth of today. We help cultivate this through different programs, such as our Suzuki Method teaching studios, our many student bands, and our Fiddle Squad, among others. Your donations help us build and maintain an environment that helps foster and develop the next generation of musicians.
We need your support to help us keep tuition affordable and sustain our growing programs. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today.
If you have questions or wish to discuss annual giving, please contact:
Executive Director Ryan Reardon
ryan@ashevillemusicschool.org
