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Overview

Founded by opera singers with a desire to lift their voices for social change, Sing for Hope is a non-profit organization that mobilizes more than 600 professional artists – from classical musicians to photographers to Broadway performers – in volunteer service programs that benefit communities in need.

Mission

Sing for Hope uses art as a catalyst for charitable giving, community understanding, and positive change in individuals, organizations, and our world.

History

Sing for Hope traces its roots to 1995, when soprano Camille Zamora organized Sing for Hope: An Evening of Art Songs and Arias in memory of a dear friend who spent his final days at Houston’s Omega House AIDS Hospice. Thanks to the generosity of Camille’s musical friends and the steadfast support of Continental Airlines and other sponsors, the concert is now one of the country’s largest annual AIDS benefits.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, soprano Monica Yunus organized fundraising concerts with her colleagues from The Metropolitan Opera. Her experience in her birth-country of Bangladesh with her father, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus, further informs her commitment to contribute through her music.

Together, Camille and Monica, close friends from Juilliard, established Sing for Hope as a resource for performing artists who want to use their art for charitable outreach.

Program

Sing for Hope is an “artists’ peace corps,” and our three programs are:

Informance Arts ~ Dynamic arts and leadership education for underserved children

Sing for Hope’s Informance Arts Youth Outreach Program introduces underserved students to the performing arts and to the concept of arts activism. Classes with resident teaching artists are complemented by visits with renowned guest artists in an exploration of the ways in which underserved youth can use art as a tool for renewal and uplift in their own lives and communities.

Healing Arts ~ In-hospital performances and workshops that complement the healing process

Sing for Hope’s Healing Arts Hospital Outreach Program provides soothing bedside performances and specially designed concerts at facilities including The Mount Sinai Medical Center, St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital (oncology ward) in the Lincoln Center area, Kateri Residence in Upper Manhattan, and Omega House in Houston, Texas. Sing for Hope artists perform solo, ensemble, and collaborative performances in patients’ rooms as well as in group recreation areas, tailoring performances to patients’ needs and complementing the healing process.

Gala Arts ~ Benefit concerts that raise awareness and funds for vital humanitarian causes.

Our partnering charities include: Bering Omega AIDS Services, The Alzheimer’s Association, Habitat for Humanity, New York Cares, Brooklyn Bureau of Community Service, Bent on Learning, The Children's Aid Society, Grameen America, Heifer International, St. Vincent's Cancer Center, The Children's Miracle Network, and The Gathering Place Cancer Support Center.

Impact

Informance Arts Youth Outreach

In 2009, Sing for Hope will provide seventy-five in-school residencies to underserved students, introducing them to the performing arts and to the concept of arts activism, or art as a means to better our world. In the next year, Informance Arts programs will bring the power of arts activism to more than 2,000 students in the New York City Public School System.

Gala Arts Benefit Performances

In 2009, Sing for Hope’s benefit concerts will raise awareness and funds for twelve vital humanitarian causes. To date, Gala Arts performances have raised over $4,000,000 for our benefiting charities.

Informance Arts Youth Outreach

In 2009, Sing for Hope will provide seventy-five in-school residencies to underserved students, introducing them to the performing arts and to the concept of arts activism, or art as a means to better our world. In the next year, Informance Arts programs will bring the power of arts activism to more than 2,000 students in the New York City Public School System.

Healing Arts Hospital Outreach

In 2009, Sing for Hope will present sixteen in-hospital performance events, complementing the healing process of patients, and providing respite, entertainment, and uplift for families and caregivers. During the next year, Healing Arts will touch the lives of over 1,500 patients, family members, and healthcare practitioners.

Goals

Informance Arts

In the 2009/2010 school year, Informance Arts will serve eight campuses in the New York City area, providing dynamic arts and leadership education to more than 2,000 underserved students. To enable Sing for Hope to continue to provide Informance Arts residencies at a free or reduced cost to our partner campuses, we aim to raise additional funds to cover program expenses.

Healing Arts

In 2010, Sing for Hope will present three Healing Arts concerts at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, as well as numerous additional concerts and bedside performances at our partner campuses. To continue to grow Healing Arts programming, Sing for Hope seeks to raise additional funds to cover program expenses.

CEOs

Camille Zamora balances a vibrant career of opera, recital and concert performances, in addition to her work with Sing for Hope. She has performed with companies including Los Angeles Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's at Carnegie Hall. Ms. Zamora is the founder of one of the country’s largest annual AIDS benefits, which in the decade since its inception has raised over three million dollars for men and women living with HIV/AIDS. She is the Co-Director of Sing for Hope and one of the co-authors of Sing for Hope’s Informance Arts curriculum. For her contributions to the field of arts activism, Ms. Zamora is honored to have performed at The United Nations and the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. Ms. Zamora received her Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School.

Monica Yunus, Co-Director

Monica Yunus is an internationally acclaimed soprano who has performed extensively in concert, recital, and on the operatic stage. Diverse engagements include performances at The Metropolitan Opera in New York City, the Al Bustan International Festival of Music and Arts in Beirut, Lebanon, as well as recitals in her native Bangladesh. She is the Co-Director of Sing for Hope. For her contributions to the field of arts activism, Ms. Yunus is honored to have performed at The United Nations and the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit. A graduate of The Juilliard School, Ms. Yunus is the daughter of Dr. Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank, a revolutionary microlending institution.

Board

Sara Bergson
Director of Corporate Strategy, PepsiCo
Former Senior Associate, Booz Allen

Mary-Mitchell Campbell
Broadway Musical Director
Faculty, Juilliard School

Plácido Domingo
Tenor, Conductor, Mentor
Director of Washington and L.A. Operas

Mary Lou Falcone
Owner, ML Falcone Public Relations
Faculty, Juilliard School

Renée Fleming
Grammy-Award Winning Soprano
Literacy Advocate

Judi Flom
Attorney
Philanthropist

Eva Haller
International Philanthropist
Humanitarian Activist

Anjelica Huston
Oscar-Winning Actress
Director and Producer

Craig Kielburger
Director, Free the Children
Author of Me to We and Take Action!

Jennifer Melin
Board Member, Graywolf Press
Steering Committee Member, Minnesota Shubert

David Miller
President, Minnetonka Moccasin
Vice-Chairman, Jane Goodall Institute

Luis Moreno
Film Editor, Designer, and Partner
JUMP Editorial, Manic Design & Visual Effects

Beverly Cooper Neufeld
Director, BCN Consulting
Former Director, The White House Project

Joseph Polisi
President, The Juilliard School
Author of The Artist as Citizen

Andy Sandberg
Director, Producer, Actor, Writer
Tony Award Winning Producer of Hair on Broadway

Connie Steensma
President (retired), Accel Group
Chair Emerita, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

James Woolery
Attorney
Partner, Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Monica Yunus
Soprano
Co-Director, Sing for Hope

Muhammad Yunus
President, Grameen Bank
2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Camille Zamora
Soprano
Founding Director, Sing for Hope

Countries

United States

States

California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington

Contact

PO BOX 218
NEW YORK, NY 10013-0218
Phone: (212) 897-4928
www.singforhope.org
EIN: 01-0856384


A Gift Card

Arts and Culture

Education

Share a Song

Music for 20 children

This gift will provide funding for 1 professional artist from Sing for Hope's roster to share their time and talent with 20 at-risk students. The artist will perform selections tailored to the students' needs and interests and will lead a question and answer session. The artist visit is a highlight of Sing for Hope's Informance Arts program. This program currently serves 8 partner campuses in...

$100.00