About Us

Founded in 1990 by composer Paul Nash, Manhattan New Music Project (MNMP) is a nonprofit arts education and performance organization that engages young people and adults in innovative programming throughout New York City.

Mission Statement:

Manhattan New Music Project empowers youth in underserved communities, using the performing arts to develop essential life skills and achieve academic success. We build partnerships among artists, students, teachers and parents that focus on the creation and performance of new works.

Overview of Activities:

- On an annual basis, MNMP directly serves more than 3,000 New York City public school students through in-school and after-school residencies, and provides professional development for over 200 teachers and administrators. We have partnered with over 100 public schools, and implement programs across all five boroughs. Our teaching artists are among the leading practitioners in their art forms and maintain a high standard of professionalism, classroom experience, and artistic merit.

- Our effectiveness has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, which has awarded $9.6 million in support of our educational programs over the last several years. Current projects include Blank Page to Stage, a four-year original musical theater creation program designed for English Language Learners as well as general- and special-education students ($1.1 million), and Everyday Arts for Special Education, a five-year professional development program using arts-based approaches to address communication and socialization skills for students with a wide range of disabilities ($4.6 million).

- MNMP produces approximately six concerts per year in a variety of venues, including public parks, art galleries, and accessibly priced recital halls. Click here for a calendar of recent and upcoming events.