Third Street Music School Settlement's Annual Spring Gala to Honor Sting & Brenda Harris
By: Caryn Robbins Mar. 29, 2016
Third Street Music School Settlement, the nation's longest running community school is pleased to announce this year's Spring Gala will honor Sting, Grammy Award winning musician and renowned philanthropist and Brenda Harris, Third Street Preschool teacher of 22 years. The gala, being held on May 16th, pays tribute to honorees for their philanthropic contributions and leadership in supporting the arts and music education.
A long time supporter of music education and an activist for creative arts, Sting will receive Third Street's Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts, joining a roster of previous honorees that includes Yoko Ono, Harold Prince, Philip Glass, and Audra McDonald. The gala raises funds to support Third Street's work in changing lives through music and arts will be hosted by Pat Kiernan, Morning Anchor for Time Warner Cable News NY1 (NY1). "I applaud Third Street Music School Settlement's commitment to arts and culture and am honored to be celebrating with such a historic and essential organization," said Gala Honoree Sting. "Third Street is proud to celebrate our 121st anniversary with two incredible honorees this year Sting and Brenda Harris. We are delighted to acknowledge them for their long legacy of advocating and building musicianship and artistic creativity in their communities and beyond," said Third Street Music School Settlement's Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director, Valerie G. Lewis. "The funds raised from the gala are crucial in ensuring that Third Street furthers our commitment in providing access and quality arts and music education for all those who seek its enrichment."Founded in 1894, Third Street Music School Settlement is that nation's longest running community music school with its roots tied to the late 19th century settlement house movement. Instrumental in establishing community arts education in the United States, Third Street has been changing lives and its community by providing access to high-quality music and arts instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of artistic experience or economic circumstances. Today, Third Street serves over 5,000 students annually, helping them thrive in school and in life by promoting healthy personal and academic development, opening avenues to further study, sparking professional careers in the arts and instilling a lifelong love of learning. Located on East 11th Street in the heart of the East Village, Third Street offers early childhood classes, a unique music-centered preschool, after-school and Saturday programs for children and teens, as well as daytime and evening programs for adults. It also provides in-school arts education through more than 27 school and community partnerships across the city, as well as a year-round schedule of more than 250 public performances. Third Street alumni, many who are professional artists, include violist Masumi Per Rostad of the acclaimed Pacifica String Quartet; 1920's hit-maker Irving Caesar 9Tea for Two, Bobby Lopez, co-writer of the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q and Academy Award-winning writer of "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen; Ingrid Michaelson, pop singer/songwriter with hits on the Top 40 charts; and Jessie Montgomery, recipient of the Sphinx Award.
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