25 Years of Opening Doors and Transforming Lives through Music
For 25 years, Special Music School has been nurturing young musicians, making all the benefits of a top-notch music education accessible to students of all backgrounds without any financial barriers. Congratulations to our wonderful students, families and educators!
Special Music School is New York City’s only K-12 public school that teaches music as a core subject. The School combines comprehensive, forward-thinking music instruction with a rigorous academic curriculum.
Special Music School was inspired by the distinguished pianist and educator Vladimir Feltsman, who, along with Kaufman Music Center Founder and Executive Director Emeritus Lydia Kontos, was instrumental in establishing the school as a partnership between Kaufman Music Center and the New York City Department of Education. The School began in 1996. In 2013, Special Music School High School opened. We are very proud to be celebrating the school's 25th anniversary this year.
Kaufman Music Center is proud to offer each of its Special Music School students approximately $10,000 worth of music instruction free of charge each year. If your circumstances allow, please consider making a gift to Special Music School, so that students from all backgrounds may continue to benefit from the experience for another 25 years!
Watch SMS students in action!
Special Music School High School students with 2020-21 Kaufman Music Center Artist-in-Residence Seth Parker Woods
