George Shirley voted Chairman of the Board of ArtSmart. Famed soprano Latonia Moore and NYC School Principal Rosemary Vega join ArtSmart Board.

I had to decide at a certain point whether to major as a violinist or a singer...being a music major in college was never a doubt for me. I became a voice major at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. However, that wasn’t the end of my violin career. I played with the Conservatory Orchestra, the Early Music Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music and to this day I still play violin for various gigs and with a few local ensembles.

Edinson has participated in Solo and Ensemble competitions and the youth music ensemble, Musicality, outside of school. Not only has music been a big part of his high school career, but Edinson is planning to pursue music education after high school.

"Outside of his high school choral teachers, who definitely encouraged and mentored him within their 8am to 3pm capacity, Sam had no one else to help him navigate all that was needed to prepare for, apply to, and audition for colleges, as his parents are immigrants and not attuned to the norms and practices in this country. It was my first experience as not only a teacher but a mentor, and both he and I were both rewarded in so many ways..."

"I am a rostered chorus member for Opera Philadelphia and will participate in two workshops for which I am part of the process of making brand new operatic works. I now teach about 30 students, half privately and half through ArtSmart. One of the most important developments over the past year is that I fully support myself financially on a freelance salary of 99% music related activities. I am also the happiest I have been in 10 years. And I feel I am truly contributing to my community through music."

Fatoumata says that the best part of being in ArtSmart is that she can get better at singing without peer pressure since ArtSmart provides one-to-one lessons. At ArtSmart she’s able to just be herself, take risks and enjoy singing. This meant a lot to me as her mentor because I truly strive to create an environment where my students feel safe to learn and try new things so that they can build their confidence in a trusted and supported way.

"Ariel and I have one glaring commonality: our big bass voices. Having the opportunity to work with someone with a voice similar to mine is precisely why I wanted to work with an organization like ArtSmart. The needs of a bigger voice require special attention, and I am thrilled to be able to pay forward all I have learned." - Chris Filipowicz, ArtSmart Mentor

"To be an opera singer like I am now means to be a perpetual student. We are always refining, perfecting, striving to do it better this time then we did it last time. One of my favorite things about studying vocal music is how it connects everything...Vocal music is math, poetry, art, history, drama & language study...all helping one to cultivate a curious mind."

"There he was, on a stage, singing a song he knew by heart, and this quiet, introspective 18-year old stood up straight and took a huge step down the path of performing music in public." - Ben Wager, ArtSmart mentor

"I must have some genetic mutation called 'Born Teacher,' as I’ve always taught one thing or another, and teaching is what keeps my creative juices flowing more than anything else."