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1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste. 500

Washington, DC 20035

1325 Avenue of the Americas, 28th Floor

NYC, NY 10019

917-821-3437

info@thedenycegravesfoundation.org

© 2023 The Denyce Graves Foundation

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Our Federal tax ID is 86-2276658. 

The Denyce Graves Foundation is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. 

WHAT IS A MUSIC CONSERVATORY? 

A Conservatory of music is an institution for education in musical performance and composition. Originally to train musicians for public performance, they eventually expanded the curriculum to include composition, instrumental and vocal technique and acting. 

The first Conservatories in the United States were Oberlin Conservatory located in Oberlin, Ohio established in 1865 and Peabody Conservatory located in Baltimore, Maryland classes starting in 1868. The benefits of attending a Music Conservatory is the ability to focus specifically on your major, opportunities to perform in full-length productions, and receive weekly one-on-one lessons and coaching along with numerous performance opportunities. 

Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute was a clear choice as one of the inaugural institutions to participate in the Denyce Graves Foundation's flagship program, Shared Voices. The first conservatory of music in the United States, Peabody was founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1857 by the merchant and philanthropist George Peabody (1795-1869) with a bequest from his fortune earned from commodities and financial services. 

 

Mr. Peabody, considered to be the first modern philanthropist, created an institute that included an academy of music, an art gallery, a library, and a forum for intellectual engagement.  His philanthropic vision transformed the cultural landscape of 19th century Baltimore and influenced other early American philanthropists such as Johns Hopkins, J.P. Morgan and John D. Rockefeller.

In 1977, the Peabody Institute and preparatory program, which offers instruction in dance and music for children and adults, became affiliated with Johns Hopkins University and, in 1985, it was designated as one of the University's academic divisions. Peabody's rich history of professional arts training is coupled with its deep focus on preparing students for the role of the 21st-century artist in our society.

Peabody's current distinguished faculty includes Denyce Graves as well as Marin Alsop, Sean Jones, and Pulitzer Prize- winning composers Kevin Puts and Du Yun.  Among notable alumni are Tori Amos, Carter Brey, Philip Glass, Hilary Hahn, Jessye Norman, Awadagan Pratt, and Andre Watts.

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GET INVOLVED

Your generous donation to the Denyce Graves Foundation supports our efforts in bringing Shared Voices to more of our nation’s vocal arts programs, to enrich the lives of more students, and help encourage a cultural landscape within the vocal arts at American universities that reflects the diverse world in which we live.

OUR MUSIC CONSERVATORY PARTNERS

The Denyce Graves Foundation is proud to partner with the following Music Conservatories for the 2024 - 2025 Shared Voices program. Click on each institution's logo to learn more. 

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