The Multicultural Music Group, Inc. is a non-profit organization established in 1996 as a response to the need of multicultural music representation in the symphonic repertoire, the teacher training curricula and the instrumental music programs in the schools. As a result of the paucity of multicultural music in instrumental settings and the need for cultural understanding among ethnic groups, the organization had a great acceptance by different audiences and educational institutions in New York City.

The basic mission of the MMG is to provide performances, instruction and professional development in multicultural music as a tool to promote global understanding, cultural awareness, and academic achievement. The presentations, training and instruction provide the constituents the opportunity to experience artistic growth and cultural awareness through the acquisition of specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that contribute to a more harmonious society and a better lifelong enjoyment of music.

In the professional performance aspect, the presentation of multicultural music in orchestras or small chamber ensembles is not very common. Furthermore, the creation of multicultural music for orchestras is rarely promoted by presenting organizations or by the administration of established symphonic organizations. Moreover, if multicultural performances are presented, information about its origins and its cross-cultural relationship is not usually provided to the audiences.

In the educational aspect, the MMG supports the schools to comply with the national educational reform, which includes the application of multicultural music instruction. Unfortunately, this topic is not usually included in the teachers training curricula and consequently in the schools' music programs, especially in instrumental music instruction for symphonic settings.

Therefore, in order to improve the aforementioned situations, the MMG provides music instruction, professional development, and multicultural performances in the symphonic setting with a research component, which provides information about the origins and development of different musical genres.

T he three major components of the MMG are The Profesional Development Workshops, The Symphonic Youth Program and The MMG Orchestra Program. The Professional Development Workshops present the opportunity to provide teacher training in the areas of instrument repairs, arts technology fund raising and instrumental music instruction with a multicultural focus. The Symphonic Youth Program provides in-service professional development; direct student instruction integrating the areas of music, computer technology and social studies; and extended day music services; and the MMG Orchestra Program provides multicultural symphonic performances and the promotion of new multicultural music for full orchestra.

The Symphonic Youth Program also provided a great support to the NYC communities. The program has been able to prepare approximately 400 students during all our years of service to be auditioned into specialized music schools and has promoted multicultural and integrated arts instruction in several school communities in NCY.

The Professional Development Workshops have provided valuable support for a great number of educators. The grant writing workshops have supported arts based teachers with the acquisition of funds for approximately twelve programs in New York City . In addition, music teachers have been able to reduce their music repair expenses as a result of our instrument repairs workshops and many teachers have been able to apply successfully multicultural and technology concepts in their daily lessons.

a. Professional Development Workshops

Teachers, administrators and musicians who want to develop their skills in following areas: instrumental music instruction, fund raising for the arts, and instrument repairs. Ethnomusicologists, music education specialists and professional musicians conduct these workshops. This component has three specialists who work in a contractual basis in the aforementioned areas.

b. Symphonic Youth Program

Students in schools where music classes either never existed or have been eliminated from the curriculum. This program provides instrumental music instruction (concert band, orchestra & stage band). In addition, music teachers receive training in different areas of music education (world music instruction, string section development, instrument repairs, rehearsing strategies, minus one concept, intonation strategies and several other topics). This program has twenty music specialists who work part time as music instructors in the participant schools.

c. MMG Orchestra Program

General audience, music students, teachers and musicians (performers, composers, lecturers) from different cultural backgrounds. This component is presented to community organizations based on their needs or interest (e.g.- Hispanic Heritage Week, African-American Month, commemorative activities, etc.). The MMG Orchestra is composed of twenty professional musicians who work on a contractual basis.