Opus 118 Harlem School of Music's mission is to provide high-quality music instruction in an environment that nurtures excellence and creativity, enabling young people to develop their creative, scholastic, and personal strengths. We are guided by the philosophy that all students are entitled to the benefits music provides, and we are committed to serving the low-income areas of Harlem and surrounding communities.

Description and/or History:
Opus 118 Harlem School of Music is a community music school that meets the musical needs of children and adults in Harlem and our surrounding community. We provide in-school and after school music programs. Most participating students come from low-income families, have had little or no prior music instruction, and attend under-resourced schools.
Opus 118 was founded in 1991 as an in-school violin instruction program when Artistic Director of Performance Roberta Guaspari sought to fill a void created by budget cuts that decimated music programs in East Harlem public schools, depriving this neighborhood's students of a vital means of self-expression and achievement. The School has expanded since then to become one of New York City's most respected performing arts education institutions, now offering instruction in violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, and voice. At the core of the School’s music curriculum is Guaspari’s nationally acclaimed pedagogy, a multifaceted training approach focusing on musicianship skills, fingering techniques, concentration exercises, and the mastering of a basic repertoire of pieces. In 2002, building on the success of its in-school programs in Harlem and the Bronx, Opus 118 launched the After-School Music Program, which has grown steadily, prompting the School's relocation to a larger facility. Today Opus 118 is a diversified music academy that provides—at little or no cost to participants—in-school training, after-school programs for students of all ages and abilities, a choral program, a summer camp program, and an early childhood musical enrichment program, serving 600 Harlem-area youth each year of all ethnic, economic, and musical backgrounds. Over 5,000 young people have participated in Opus’ music programming over our sixteen-year history.

Contact person: Katherine Kennedy, Administrative Assistant, (212) 831-4455, (email)

Address:

103 East 125th Street, Suite 7W New York, NY 10035 (See a map)

Directions:

We are located at the corner of Park Avenue.   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 125th Street 4 5 6,   Walk distance (in minutes): 1   Nearest Bus Stop: M60, 1 minute walk