Vanessa Williams to Receive Distinguished Artist Award at Third Street Gala

Third Street Music School Settlement will host its Spring Gala, celebrating 131 years of music, dance, and community with performances by Vanessa Williams and Third Street students. The event, hosted by comedian and actress Michelle Buteau, will take place at Cipriani Wall Street on Tuesday, May 12, at 6:00 p.m. EST.

Third Street will honor Vanessa Williams with the Distinguished Artist Award. Having sold millions of records worldwide, Vanessa's critically-acclaimed work in film, television, music, and the Broadway stage has been recognized by every major industry award affiliate, including 4 Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAG award nominations, 7 NAACP Image Awards, and 3 Satellite Awards. All funds raised at the Gala will support Third Street's mission and our work to ensure equitable access to music and dance education for 6,000+ New York City students.

As the nation's longest-running community music school, Third Street has transformed lives through the arts for 131 years. Emilie Wagner, an arts education pioneer, founded Third Street in 1894 with the belief that music played a critical role in both childhood development and community advancement. She made arts education the foundation of a settlement house that provided both essential social services and music instruction to immigrant families. Today, Third Street ensures access to music education for students of all backgrounds and harnesses its power to create a supportive and collaborative community. Generations of NYC students have benefitted from Third Street's programs which improve the social and cultural well-being of our surrounding neighborhoods, promote school and community engagement, and prepare students for lifelong success in the arts and other endeavors.

Third Street's programs currently reach 6,000 NYC students annually and include: 1) music and dance instruction for people of all ages, offered seven days a week at our headquarters; 2) partnerships with 40+ under-resourced public schools, public housing, and community centers where we provide in/afterschool arts instruction; 3) 150+ free public concerts, recitals, workshops, and events that offer students meaningful performance opportunities and enhance our neighborhood; and 4) an arts-enriched preschool. Individualized support services, free and low-cost instrument loans and rentals, and a supportive network of peers and mentors help our students thrive. Third Street awards $1.6M in financial assistance annually - including need-based financial aid, merit-based scholarships, and subsidies - benefiting 75% of students. No student is ever turned away due to financial circumstances.