MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD INC
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
UNITYFest
UNITYFest: (formerly the International Music Festival) is an annual multi-week and multi-venue performance series featuring world-class artists in thought-provoking pairings designed to challenge mass media stereotypes that are too often the only exposure people have to foreign lands.
Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral
Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral offers free performances by some of the world’s finest artists in the oldest continually operating Catholic sanctuary in the United States. This one of a kind combination attracts tourists and locals alike for an enchanting experience in the birthplace of the city. The series is modeled after the European tradition of hosting free concerts in the great cathedrals of historic destinations like Venice, Florence, and Amsterdam. Musical Evenings at San Fernando Cathedral serves the dual purpose of elevating San Antonio’s status as a cultural tourism destination and driving economic development in the city’s cultural core. Musical Evenings consists of 5 concerts over the course of the year, each followed by a free catered meet the artists reception.
Golden Age
Golden Age: an interactive community outreach program providing outstanding musical performances to seniors in assisted living and community centers. The goal is to positively impact the lives of senior citizens – many whom are unable to travel to outside performances due to lack of health and stamina.
The Gurwitz International Piano Competition
The Gurwitz International Piano Competition: In 2017, MBAW absorbed San Antonio’s IPC (now called The Gurwitz) and will have continuous programming throughout the year in preparation for the next competition in 2020.
The Gurwitz International Piano Competition (formerly the San Antonio International Piano Competition) was founded in 1983 and its first competition was in October 1984. Competitions are held every four years and feature some of the most exhilarating young talent in the world. The Gurwitz has been accepted as a member of the Geneva-based World Federation of International Music Competitions.
The Gurwitz 2020 Finals will be held at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. In addition, the semi-finalists will be performing with musicians from Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble; the Finals will be a concerto with full Symphony Orchestra. Head Judge for the 2020 Competition will be the current Music Director of the San Antonio Symphony, Sebastian Lang-Lessing.
A distinguished panel of judges will identify the best of the best emerging pianists. From over 70 artists representing the finest in international talent, twelve contestants will be selected from around the globe to compete for the Gurwitz Gold Medal in San Antonio, Texas.
The Gurwitz will impact approximately 12,262 people including: 12 participants, audiences of approximately 7,500, 1,250 university students through masterclasses and workshops by the judges, 3,500 school kids bussed to the concerts and tourists.
Art Gallery
The Art Gallery of Musical Bridges Around the World continues the mission to unite, educate and inspire through culturally diverse programming by showcasing the works of established contemporary artists. Quarterly art openings bring the community together, where the collectors are offered an exclusive opportunity to acquire artwork and support our non-profit at the same time – the proceeds benefit MBAW programming directly.
Musical Sprouts
Musical Sprouts is an original educational program that uses music and dance to teach core classroom subjects, including STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), improve social emotional learning, and broaden children’s awareness of diversity and culture. The program blends live performances with digital learning and in-classroom lessons.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsTotal number of performances
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Children, Preteens, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
This includes all programs (free and paid). Our paid member programs go to support our free programs. 2020-21 metrics reduced because education and senior performances shifted virtual condensed amount
Number of works exhibited temporarily
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Art Gallery
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The COVID-19 pandemic stalled the frequency of gallery exhibitions, but this is now beginning to resume.
Total number of free admissions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Relating only to MBAW public programs with admissions (no education or senior programs).
Total number of free performances given
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Students, Seniors, Children, Low-income people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Applies to all programs, not only Kids to Concerts. 2020-21 saw a condensed metric, with school and senior performances pivoting virtually that all students received at once.
Total number of competitions held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
The Gurwitz International Piano Competition
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Competition is only every 4 years.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
MBAW is in a period of transition as we turn the challenges of the past two years into opportunities for transformation and growth. MBAW has added new staff to support this growth. The staff held a strategic planning session this summer and charted our direction for the next five years. In alignment with that organizational work, our primary operational objectives are:
1. To implement a fully hybrid approach to programming, with all programs offered virtually and in person;
2. To recover in-person audiences to pre-pandemic levels and increase online audiences locally and worldwide;
3. To develop original interactive online content for each program;
4. To maximize the reach and impact of MBAW’s new documentary film project, The Quilt: A Living History of African American Music; and
5. To implement a new communications framework emphasizing MBAW’s vision to create a sense of belonging.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
San Antonio is a wonderfully diverse city: 75% of the population are people of color, 14.3% of the population are immigrants, and 43% of households speak a language other than English in their homes (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019). MBAW elevates the arts as a critical component of society to represent, respect, and celebrate this rich cultural diversity. MBAW listens to the community through audience interaction and frequent surveys and evolves its programming to meet community needs. The needs we are currently addressing are:
1. A gap in high-quality, accessible performing arts available for everyone in San Antonio
2. The health of San Antonio’s civil society through belonging and connectivity
3. A gap in arts education to impact outcomes for children of color
4. Social isolation for a growing older adult population
5. Economic development through tourism and arts
Particularly after the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic, MBAW’s work right now is to harness the transformative power of art to ameliorate the social and psychological effects of the global pandemic and bring people together with a sense of community and belonging.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Musical Bridges Around the World now reaches over 25,000 people a year free of charge. Despite this unprecedented accessibility, the organization’s fiscally responsible Board of Directors and CEO have ensured each season closes with a balanced budget, showing growth year after year. This fiscal year, MBAW demonstrated growth with an operating budget of over $1 million. MBAW's capabilities are exhibited in our quality of music, performances and performers, broad range of music programming, good standing in the community, and collaborative efforts with other organizations. Its corporate and private membership base is established and growing, as well as its audience. MBAW has a well-developed collaborative and artistic base, both locally and internationally.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
MBAW reaches 25,000 people annually from all walks of life. Everything MBAW does is designed to foster meaningful cultural activity and broaden public participation therein. After the extended period of social isolation our communities have endured, MBAW brings the healing power of music back into public spaces. MBAW promotes accessibility to the arts and fosters a sense of community and belonging in the following ways:
1. MBAW presents all public programs to audiences free of charge.
2. Multicultural programs attract diverse audiences.
3. All public performance venues are ADA-compliant.
4. MBAW delivers programs to people with limited mobility (retirement communities).
5. MBAW delivers programs to schools in marginalized communities.
6. The same award-winning talent that MBAW presents in premier venues also perform in retirement communities and schools for community outreach programs.
7. MBAW is offering all programs both online and in person to reach audiences where they are.
8. MBAW works with community partners such as schools, retirement centers and community-based organizations, to improve our ability to reach our intended audiences.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
We don't actively use collected feedback
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
MUSICAL BRIDGES AROUND THE WORLD INC
Board of directorsas of 02/08/2023
Eric Miller, MD
Awilda I Ramos
Pediatrician
Susan Franklin
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Adriana Flores
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Eric Miller
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Fatima Winsborough
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Vernon Haney
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Tim Quigley
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Jaime Waltman Cooke
JLEN Events
Amanda Dominguez
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Kristina Zhao
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Fasal Khan
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Carlos Miranda
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Bob Leckie
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Ben Jones
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Kimberley West
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Suzanne Rostomian
CPA
Aaron Asel
Asel & Associates
Abbas Selghi
Terra Nova Violins
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 06/03/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.