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| Adriana Ray performs during a recital at the Community Music School in Raleigh.
Courtesy of Community Music School
Photo: Courtesy of Community Music School |
There’s no doubt in Moore’s mind the Community Music School gave him the tools to embrace his gift and nurture his passion – and the confidence to share it with audiences.
“I wouldn’t be at the level I’m playing at now if it wasn’t for CMS,” said Moore, 18, who graduated from Enloe High School last spring and now attends Wake Technical Community College. “Being at CMS really built my confidence and performance levels, too, so now I know how to express emotions in the music through my body language.”
The same has held true since 1994 for more than 2,000 budding musicians and their families who have relied on affordable lessons at the Community Music School on Tucker Street in downtown Raleigh.
But last month, with coffers too bare to sustain its operations or pay teachers, the nonprofit that relies on grant funding and donations was forced to suspend its classes for the first time.
The school’s board has launched an emergency fundraising campaign in hopes of raising $100,000 by Jan. 31 to re-open early next year.
“Programmatically, the school has never been stronger,” CMS executive director Erin Zanders said, noting growth in student enrollment and expanded offerings. “Unfortunately, the fundraising hasn’t kept pace with the growth.
“For 23 years, we’ve been offering these programs for students and accomplishing a lot with them, but we’ve never had a reserve fund when the money doesn’t come in the way we need or expect it to,” Zanders said. “This year, we needed one.
“It’s been a tough year for fundraising.”
That’s often the case in election years, when many of our donations go to candidates, not causes, experts say.
Nonprofits can rally donors with year-end giving appeals as this year’s #GivingTuesday approaches on Nov. 29.
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Source: News & Observer
