Our Mission
Music Unites, a 501(c)3 non-profit, is dedicated to bringing music education to underprivileged children in underfunded inner city school systems. We work towards transforming inner city landscapes by empowering urban youth through music.
Our goal is to connect people through the universality of music by providing communities with opportunities for a rich musical experience. This is achieved through music education programs and by offering established and emerging musicians performance opportunities in a variety of venues and locations, including schools, where they act as mentors to the students.
We also nourish the next generation of performers by providing audiences and performance opportunities, while at the same time enriching the listening experience of the public, allowing them to experience new forms and genres through exposure to an increasingly diverse world of music.
Performance Opportunities
Music Unites hosts a series of live performances designed to introduce new audiences to a variety of musical styles and genres and help them cultivate an appreciation for the diversity that exists in our modern society. With a vast network of members in numerous industries, Music Unites has the capabilities to bring together talent, press, and industry professionals, which will provide performance artists with the necessary access to tastemakers, potential benefactors and brands.
Philanthropic Initiatives
The Music Unites Youth Choir
Young Audiences New York presents The Music Unites Youth Choir, a free after-school vocal ensemble, led by Music Director Deepak Marwah, which offers comprehensive programming to a diverse group of teens through the study, creation and presentation of music in an array of styles including R&B, gospel, pop and Western classical. With participants from over a dozen schools, the program provides supplementary music education and promotes self-expression and creativity among its members by developing original choral pieces. The group meets once a week throughout the academic year in preparation for the program’s winter and spring concerts. Along with these culminating events, The MUY Choir performs additional public shows throughout the year at such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Tribeca Performing Arts Center and The Bronx Zoo. Music Unites aids in programming and hosting educational workshops through an array of special opportunities including panel discussions with industry professionals from organizations such as MTV, Bowery Presents and Epic Records; private performances by recording artists (including John Forte, Jaicko and Reni Lane) and an end-of-year recording session at a New York City studio. Young Audiences New York, with the generous support of Music Unites and The Matisse Foundation, provides the youth choir with the tools and opportunities to envision the role of music in their lives, today and in the future. Along with these culminating events, The MUY Choir performs additional public shows throughout the year at such esteemed venues as Carnegie Hall, The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Tribeca Performing Arts Center and The Bronx Zoo.
Empowering Women Through Music
The Empowering Women Through Music initiative will help platform emerging and established female artists and professionals that are determined to give back to their community. The initiative kicked off in March 2010 with an intimate concert featuring Music Unites Ambassador, Melanie Fiona. Music Unites will work with workshops and panels and help create strong effective programs where top executives across industries will share stories and inspire women to work toward their dreams. Women in Music, a dynamic group of music industry professionals, has partnered with Music Unites in this initiative.
Music Unites Recording Academy at CARES High School, NYC, New York
Music Unites launched its first Recording Academy at CARES High School at St Luke’s/Roosevelt Hospital with the goal of teaching students the intricacy of recording a record from writing, production and performance. The program consists of two classes, one guitar class and one production class.
Music Unites Guitar Program at Centennial High School, Compton, LA
Our first LA program launched as a result of a Music Unites kick-off House of Rock event last September. Since then, these students have enjoyed monthly educational workshops, and will begin their guitar classes at the start of 2013.
Music Unites Program at Benito Juarez Community Academy, Chicago, IL
One of our newest partnerships and our flagship program in Chicago. Music Unites supports the school with purchasing brand new instruments for all students and in-school and after-school programs. On June 5th, the historic Metro Theater has generously opened its doors for a benefit concert on behalf of Music Unites, to bring funding to their very own Chicago Music Unites program at Benito Juarez.
Music-Versity Workshops
Monthly supplemental field trips, panels, workshops, master classes and other special opportunities to give students an inside look into the music industry. Through founder Michelle Edgar’s network, she is able to provide these students with one-on-one sessions with recording artist and industry leaders for Music Unites students to truly feel empowered and learn how to pursue their future dreams.
Who We Are
With Music Unites, Founder and Executive Director Michelle Edgar aims to foster a lasting and profound love of all musical expression with people from all walks of life.
A lifelong musician herself, Edgar began formal training in classical piano at age five and attended high school at the Manhattan School of Music. After graduating from Northwestern University, where she received training as a concert pianist, she moved back to New York where she was disappointed to find such an electrifying city still segregated by genre, style, and idiom. As a fan of all music—from jazz to rock, classical to hip-hop—she dreamed of an organization that might provide audiences with a unique, inclusive way to experience music in all its hues and flavors. Projects including Blue October, Tamarama, Chester French, Universal Motown records, among other A-list acts planned for the very near future, ranging in diversity. Michelle created Music Unites to support talented artists who are struggling to get their music heard and, in turn, to support communities in need of musical rejuvenation.
The Music Unites team is a talented group of professionals from diverse industries who share a passion for music and a desire to engage, inspire, and connect people. Whether funding a Lincoln Center initiative, partnering with a musician’s charity or launching a music-related school program that gives back to the community, Music Unites aspires to become that trusted, reliable friend and patron of the music community.
Who We Work With
Board of Directors
David M. Ehrlich, Esq.
Of Counsel at the law firm of Abrams Garfinkel Margolis & Bergson, LLP.
Roy Edmondson
Partner, Global Brand Development Director of Ketchum
Kim Seth, Ph.D
Executive Director, Research Investments; Development & Strategic Operations of Pfizer Worldwide R&D
Randy Spendlove
President of Paramount Music, is a record producer and Grammy Award winner who oversees all aspects of music for Paramount Pictures.
Jerry Tokofsky
Motion Picture Executive, is a former VP of Production Columbia Pictures,VP of Production at Paramount Pictures, and VP of MGM films foreign and LA.
Ron Glickman
Managing Director, Chardan Capital Markets an international investment bank with offices in Beijing, Los Angeles, and Sydney. Former Board member of NY Chamber Symphony.
Ed Chapman
Chief Executive Officer, Marchesa Holdings LLC
Thomas Benski
CEO of Pulse Films, a talent management and integrated content production company that creates content across different platforms.
Joseph Edelman
CEO of Perceptive Advisors, a $600 million hedge fund focusing on life sciences and other healthcare investments. Edelman founded the company in 1999.
