BUILDING LEADERS USING MUSIC EDUCATION IN HAITI
Helping generations of Haitians find their voice.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
BLUME Haiti supports music programs across Haiti - in large cities and rural outposts - by strengthening the professional expertise of teachers and administrators; expanding access to musical study and training in Haiti and abroad; increasing the capacity and resources of programs by providing instruments, music and supplies based on their identified needs; and fostering inter-cultural dialogue. Our goal is not to train virtuoso musicians - though we do plenty of that - but to sustain a robust musical, cultural and educational sector that can develop future leaders of Haiti and contribute to a more resilient, creative and vibrant future for this country. We have grown exponentially since 2012; the scope and reach of our impact on young people, families, communities and the country has grown accordingly. Many of our Haitian partners tell us that, in a country where basic infrastructure is often lacking and where foreign aid is often suspect, we are a trusted partner and model.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
BLUME Haiti currently (2023) has over 60 partner community music programs located in all of Haiti's ten departments. We reach over 6,000 students a year and focus primarily on capacity building through pedagogical development and support through instruments, music and supplies.
Haitian Orchestra Institute
BLUME Haiti in partnership with Musicians of the Utah Symphony and the Utah Symphony co-created the Haitian Orchestra Institute (HOI), an extraordinary addition to the fabric of musical life in Haiti. The HOI enables over 100 of Haiti’s most accomplished musicians to come together to receive intensive orchestral and instrumental training from Musicians of the Utah Symphony (MOTUS), Utah Symphony former Music Director Thierry Fischer, and a Haitian born conductor, culminating in an exhilarating final concert. There are always works by Haitian composers included and in the most recent edition (2023), as part of the Celebration of Haitian Arts, there were 2 premiers of Haitian composers and, all told, the music of seven Haitian composers was performed.
Pedagogical Support for Teachers and Students in Haitian Community Music Schools
Since our inception, BLUME Haiti has worked extensively to deepen the pedagogical capacity of our Haitian colleagues, friends and students. To this end, we offer a large number of scholarships every summer to ensure that a wide range of teachers and advanced students in Haiti are able to take advantage of the opportunity to work with master teachers from around the world.
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.
Number of camps offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people, Artists and performers, Children and youth
Related Program
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
BLUME Haiti offers direct support to music schools across Haiti. We give scholarships to hundreds of young musicians, enabling them to attend several "national" camps. We also support regional camps.
Total dollar amount of scholarship awarded
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, At-risk youth, Economically disadvantaged people, Artists and performers
Related Program
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The importance of our scholarship program cannot be overstated. Offering scholarships for summer music camps to students has been incredibly effective in creating community across the country.
Number of groups/individuals benefiting from tools/resources/education materials provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We give music schools donated instruments, music and supplies as we are able. All of the 60+ music schools we partner with have access to materials in Haitian Kreyol
Number of press articles published
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Articles about our work have appeared in Scherzo, The Ensemble and El Espanol, Enclave (Fundacion La Caixa)
Average number of dollars received per donor
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Supporting Music Education throughout Haiti
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We have just switched to a new CRM - more data will be available later
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn 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?
Through music, BLUME Haiti changes lives and helps Haitian musicians find their voice. As the first non-local organization to occupy this space and cultivate an extensive music education ecosystem in Haiti, we are unique in how we use music to innovate change and enable access, regardless of social class, to the benefits music education provides. Supporting over 60 programs located in each of Haiti’s ten provinces, serving about 6000 students, we strongly believe in the transformational power of music to give children and young adults options in their lives. We serve these programs in various ways:
*Professional Development: we mentor young professionals and are developing a knowledgeable, networked and caring professional workforce for the music education sector in Haiti
*Student Development: We nurture music students and expand access to high quality, learner-centered educational opportunities
*Music School Development: we strengthen our partner programs and build their capacity, resources and infrastructure offering expertise and assistance in running classes, camps and programs
*Special Initiatives: We inspire and produce national and local initiatives with meaningful artistic, cultural, educational and economic impact such as the Haitian Orchestra Institute and Instrument repair Programs
*Health and Welfare Assistance: We model and support a positive and healthy presence in the lives of all those our programs reach providing food and other wellness support for students.
Over the past three years, 17 scholarship recipients and seminar attendees are directing music programs, 11 have started their own schools, over 110 have had pedagogical training, and hundreds more contribute to their communities as performers, teachers and repair technicians. Because of our work, 33 programs offering string instruction are able to maintain their stock of instruments. Indeed, there are now 5 luthiers, trained with our support, operating at a fully professional level in the country. And, thanks to funding from the Naperville Rotary Club, through our Band Instrument Repair Program 120 individuals from 66 music schools located in all 10 of Haiti's departments have completed the first of three curriculum modules. Of these, a number are already supplementing their income by repairing instruments and 20 have opened their own repair shops.
We collaborate with a number of international partners, ABRSM (UK), Luthiers sans Frontières (UK branch), Music Fund (Belgium) among them, and have received support from numerous organizations located in the United States, including The Singing for Change Foundation, The Guitar Center Music Foundation, The D'Addario Foundation, Global Heartstrings Foundation, along with Retrofret Vintage Guitars, J.W. Pepper, Fiddlershop, The Loft Violins and many more. Their generosity enhances music education in Haiti, allowing young musicians to explore their creativity and build a sense of community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We have a five pronged approach to our work on the ground in Haiti.
Professional Support - we mentor young professionals, ensuring that young women are included as much as possible, and are developing a knowledgeable, networked and caring professional workforce for the music education sector in Haiti with efforts such as:
*Pedagogy Workshops and Seminars
*Professional Training Scholarships
*Instrument Repair Workshops and Seminars
*Support of Haitian Composers through commissions, development and performances
*Access to national and international experts
*Online resources and Training
Student Support - we nurture music students and expand access to high quality, learner-centered educational opportunities in Haiti and abroad such as:
*Tuition assistance
*Scholarships for summer camps and special programs
*Study Abroad Scholarships
*National Workshops and Seminars
*Facilitating access to national and international experts
Partner Development - we strengthen our partner programs and build their capacity, resources and infrastructure through
*Supplemental salary support for faculty and staff
*Logistical support for schools and camps
*Grant programs for instruments, supplies and music
*Direct in-kind donations from sponsors and supports
*Access to national and international experts
Special Initiatives - we inspire and produce national and local initiatives with meaningful artistic, cultural, educational and economic impact such as:
*The Haitian Orchestra Institute co-sponsored in partnership with the Musicians of the Utah Symphony
*Instrument repair programs in partnership with Luthiers sans Frontieres (UK branch), The MusicFund (Belgium), the Rotary Club of Naperville and more
Health and Welfare Assistance - we model and support a positive and healthy presence in the lives of all those our programs reach through:
*Responding to basic health and security needs during emergencies
*Distributing food and nutritional resources via partner schools
*Promoting safe and sanitary living and learning environments
*Sharing best practices for equitable youth development
*Developing a No Harassment/No Abuse policy for partner programs
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With a passionate, engaged and all-volunteer board, most of whom have long experience teaching in Haiti, and with four Haitian staff members (Program Manager, Band Instrument Repair Technician, Luthier and String Teacher, Woodwind and Music Theory specialist) we currently work with over 60 music programs located in all of Haiti's ten departments. It is important to note that BLUME Haiti does not "have" any schools, we do not run any music programs in Haiti, rather we support communities, program directors, teachers, staff and students as they work to bring the many benefits of music education to those they serve.
In 2012, BLUME Haiti started by modestly supporting five music programs; we now support over 60 programs in each of Haiti’s ten departments. Our dedication to empowering local voices has led to organic growth driven by our partners themselves. Because of our work, 37 programs offering string instruction are able to maintain their stock of instruments. Indeed, there are now 4 luthiers operating at a high professional level in the country. And, to increase the sustainability of music schools even more, we have now embarked on a program of training band instrument repair technicians: 120 have taken the first of three curriculum modules developed by our own staff member and, of this group, many report already being able to supplement their income with instrument repair. Over the past six years, 17 scholarship recipients and seminar attendees are directing music programs, 9 have started their own schools, over 500 have had pedagogical training, and hundreds more contribute to their communities as performers, teachers and repair technicians. Our model works throughout Haiti; this approach to music education can be replicated anywhere and by any organization with a commitment to working responsively, respectfully, and in partnership with the communities they serve.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Through our work supporting over 60 music programs, and strengthening the music education ecosystem of Haiti, we have reached approximately 6,000 individuals/year over the past three years, with a ripple effect positively impacting many thousands more family and community members in all of Haiti’s ten departments.
We serve these programs in various ways: developing a vibrant workforce through salary support and professional development; conducting pedagogical and administrative training; organizing instrument repair training; offering expertise and assistance in running classes, camps and programs; overseeing donations of instruments, music, and supplies; and providing food and other wellness support for students. We track scholarship and program participants.
Since 2014:
5000+ students served annually
539 teachers attended professional development seminars
550 scholarships awarded for summer study
62 partner programs in cities and villages across Haiti
17 scholarship recipients now direct music schools
9 scholarship recipients have launched their own music programs
4 highly professional luthiers (string instrument repair)
120 band instrument repair students
20 repair technicians have set up their own shops contributing to the sustainability of their home programs
We have hired Haitian four staff members
The Haitian Orchestra Institute, co-sponsored with the Musicians of the Utah Symphony, reaches 100 of Haiti's most accomplished classically trained musicians every year. Cancelled from 2019-2022 because of political instability and COVID, the 2023 edition was a resounding success - music as a tool of resistance and an instrument of hope.
The Luthier program for string instrument repair that we support in partnership with Luthiers without Borders (UK Branch) has been remarkably effective. There are now 4 highly professional luthiers in Haiti and most schools with string programs have someone on staff able to at least maintain the stock of instruments.
We have started a country-wide program for band instrument repair. 120 people from each of the ten departments have participated in the first of three modules led by our Instrument Repair Technician
We facilitate online teaching using the international network of our board members. 100's of participants have benefited from teachers in this way. We have also consulted with several international organizations to help them set up their own online programs. We are facilitating Haitian led instrumental teaching for 90 students and of 400 students have signed up for online music theory classes taught by our executive director and a Haitian colleague.
In partnership with The Music Fund (Belgium) we are working with expert local Haitian technicians to produce instructional videos about basic instrument repair.
Helping the students, teachers, and staff of our partner programs confront the increasing difficulties of daily life, we have expanded our available amount of financial support.
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?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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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 engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, We don’t have the right technology to collect and aggregate feedback efficiently, It is difficult to find the ongoing funding to support feedback collection, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time, It is difficult to identify actionable 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
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
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.
BUILDING LEADERS USING MUSIC EDUCATION IN HAITI
Board of directorsas of 01/18/2024
Ricardo Lesperance
Cboe
Term: 2021 - 2024
Phil Bravo
Rise
Jethro Celestin
Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans
Jacques Anderson Bernier
Church Musician
Scott Harrison
Provost and Vice President, Cleveland Institute of Music
Jordan King
Middle school music teacher
Ricardo Lesperance
Cboe
Oriel Romano
Graduate student
Rachael Cohen
Chicago Symphony
Lindsay Schwartz
Middle School Music Teacher
Megan Early-Soppa
Attorney
Jonathan Perodin
FOKAL
Marie-Claire Salomon Leroy
USAID
Melvin Butler
Professor, Frost School of Music; Miami
Steven Huang
Conductor
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 ? No -
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? No
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:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 10/17/2022GuideStar 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 disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
- 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.