About Us
Providing weekly private music lessons and instruments to underprivileged children
Who We Are
TOC's education initiative, Directions provides weekly private music instruction to underprivileged elementary school students in NYC. TOC pays for the lessons, which are taught by inspiring mentors who are also performing artists.
TOC also brings Classical Music to a broader audience by presenting top-quality performances in non-traditional venues. By having world-renowned musicians and celebrity hosts perform on young people's turf, the musical experience has much more meaning.
Our Organization's Mission
Through the Directions program, TOC seeks to eliminate the financial barriers that keep talented, underprivileged children from fully realizing their artistic potential by providing them with the resources needed to study classical music. We provide the following services free of charge:
-Private and group lessons taught by recent graduates of the Juilliard School
-Instruments for home practice
-Educational outings to concerts and events at such venues as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall
-Performance opportunities alongside professional musicians on the TOC concert series
-Outreach concerts for large groups of children at public schools
Who We Serve
We are delighted to be reaching hundreds of students at our shows across the country. There are currently about 50 students who receive private instruction through Directions in NYC. They qualify through a highly selective process based on talent, discipline, parental involvement, and financial need.
Upcoming Events
June 2 - Trip with our kids to Lincoln Center
June 2 - auditions for Juilliard's MAP Program
June 9th - our student gets to see Yo Yo Ma perform and meet him backstage
June 11th - recital at PS 161
Board of Directors
We are so fortunate to have the continued support of our caring and involved Board of Directors. The distinguished members are David Picket Chairman of TOC Board, and President, Gotham Organization Ronen Segev Founder/Artistic and Managing Director, TOC, Concert Pianist Douglas Brennan and Lori Brennan President, Drogueria Central Nicole Esposito Public Relations Director, Full Picture Larry Fehrenbaker and Allison Fehrenbaker President, Herkimer Associates Stephen Gliatta and Sonia Gliatta Partner and Chair of Real Estate Division, Kaye Sholer William Lerner and Alexandra Lerner President, Imperial Parking Systems Michael Lichtenberg and Lisa Lichtenberg President, S. Lichtenberg & Co. Peter Muller Advisory Director, Morgan Stanley, and Singer-Songwriter David Picket and Rona Picket President, Gotham Organization Joel Picket and Joan Picket Chairman, Gotham Organization Chuck Rosenzweig and Stacy Rosenzweig Managing Director, RBS Greenwich Capital Mark Richardson President, ROC Company Joan Warren Associate Dean, The Juilliard School
Board of Advisors
Wynton Marsalis World Renowned Trumpeter and Artistic Director of JALC, Billy Joel World Renowned Pop Artist, HBO's Roger Moley, Dominic Chianese, Sandra Bernhard World Renowned Comedian and Actress, Merle Fairhurst Touring Opera Singer and frequent TOC performer, Veda Kaplinsky Chairman of Piano Department Faculty, Juilliard School, Joan Warren Associate Dean, Juilliard School, Andre Royo Actor, MuMs Actor, Alexander Bernstein President Leonard Bernstein Foundation, Ben Jelen World-renowned singer-songwriter
Major Supporters and Sponsors
HBO, New Balance, Gotham International, Credit Suisse, Department of Cultural Affairs
| Year Founded : |
2000 |
| 501(c)(3) Ruling Year : |
2001 |
| Full-Time Employees : |
5 |
| Volunteers : |
25 |
What Sets Us Apart
We can recognize children that excel in group music lessons and provide them with one-on-one lessons and instruments for home practice. Their teachers serve as mentors, taking them to special events, most recently Blue Man Group. Ultimately, children gain confidence, skill and motivation.
Objectives for This Fiscal Year
Our goal is to continue to expand. There are always students on our waiting list and new schools that would like us to implement our program. We were recently able to add two schools in Harlem!
Recent Accomplishments
TOC was featured in the NY Times as "the hip of classical music."
Five of our students were selected for Juilliard's MAP Program. There are only eight spots available!
All of our students made honor roll!
Our students were featured on PBS Nightly Business Report and Sirius Satellite Radio, CBS, the Times and more!
