The Howard Gilman Foundation Awards Bronx Arts Ensemble General Operating Support
(BRONX, NY) The Bronx Arts Ensemble is pleased to announce that we’ve received a substantial $250,000 grant from the esteemed Howard Gilman Foundation. This grant comprises two components: $100,000 for general operating support over two fiscal years, with $50,000 allocated for FY’25 and the remaining $50,000 for FY’26, and $150,000 to replenish our cash reserve funds. This financial boost will enable us to continue offering free programming in the vibrant Bronx communities we serve.
Judith Insell, the Executive Director of the Bronx Arts Ensemble, expressed our heartfelt gratitude, stating, “The Howard Gilman Foundation’s generous grant to our 53-year-old organization aligns perfectly with their unwavering commitment to ensuring that Bronx communities continue to experience the transformative power of live music, free from economic constraints, for generations to come.”
In our ongoing mission to provide diverse musical opportunities for Bronx artists and audiences, we carefully curate our season to resonate with the communities we perform in. By blending music that reflects their cultural heritage with contemporary works from beyond traditional boundaries, we aim to broaden our audience’s musical horizons. Whenever feasible, we incorporate dance and other art forms into multidisciplinary performances, showcasing the talents of our dedicated teaching artists.
Beyond our core ensemble of professional wind and string players, we present a wide range of exceptional artists to our Bronx audiences. Each year, we present over 30 live performances, reaching more than 35,000 individuals across the borough. Our programming encompasses a rich tapestry of cultures and periods, drawing inspiration from classical music while also commissioning and performing new American works. Additionally, we incorporate Latin, Afro-Cuban, and other world music elements to enrich our offerings and provide a truly global experience.
The Bronx Arts Ensemble stands out as the sole chamber music organization in The Bronx with a contracted and professional relationship with the highly skilled American Federation of Musicians of the Local 802 Union. This partnership has allowed us to secure an exceptional repertoire, enabling us to present outstanding musical experiences to our audiences throughout the Bronx.
Since 1976, we have been privileged to present numerous New York and world premieres, showcasing a diverse catalog of works including Kamala Sankaram, Jessica Meyer, and Oliver Caplan. We have also performed works by Valerie Coleman, Angélica Negrón, Brittany Green, Joe Hisaishi, and Caroline Shaw. Our albums feature first recordings of Roberto Sierra’s oratorio Bayoán and chamber opera El Mensajero de Plata, Morton Gould’s Concerto Concertante, William Cepeda’s Bomba Sinfónica, and recordings of rarely-heard chamber pieces by composers like Bruch, Rheinberger, and Louise Farrenc.
We kick off 2025 with a concert by the Bronx Arts Ensemble Woodwind Quintet at the University of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx on Sunday, January 26 at 2 p.m. For more information about upcoming events throughout the year, visit bronxartsensemble.org.