A YEAR OF RENEWED PURPOSE
Inour29thyear,wecametogether—notjustasartistsand audiences,butasacommunityoflisteners,movers,and dreamers committedtothebeliefthatmusicconnectsus acrossculture,memoryandplace.Thisyear,morethanever, calledonustopause,reflect,andreimaginewhatitmeansto serve.Inthefaceofongoingchallenges—social,economic,and political—webeganthevitalworkofreorganizingandrethinking ourstructuresowecanmoveforwardwithclarity,strengthand purpose.
Attheheartofthisprocessisadeepcommitmentto transformingourimpact—ensuringthatourworknotonly resonatesartistically,butalsorespondsboldlytotheneedsofour time.Wecontinuetobelievethatmusicisapowerfulvehiclefor education,forhealingandforjustice.Thatbeliefhasguidedusas wecreatespaceswhereyoungpeoplecangrow,beheardand seethemselvesreflectedinthestorieswetellandtherhythmswe share.
Throughouttheyear,oureventsremindeduswhywedothis work:tohonorheritage,toupliftsilencedvoices,andtocultivate acultureofbelongingrootedinequityandjoy.Asweapproach our30thanniversary,wedosowitharenewedvision onethat placesyouth,justiceandcommunityatthecenter,andthat affirmsourroleaseducators,artists,andagentsofchange.
InSolidarity,
Dr.LuisMojica ExecutiveDirector
TheMulticulturalMusicGroup,Inc.
MMG TEAM
Dr. Luis Mojica Executive Director
Sofía Mojica Chief Operations Officer
Melanie Dyer Development and Fundraising Director
Timofei Rosales Symphonic Youth Program (SYP) Director
Dr. Wilfredo José Burgos Matos Education and Research Specialist
Sari Weintraub Office Admin – Development Assistant
INSPIRING PROGRAMMING
WeWelcomedCandombeintoOurHeartswith SebastiánNatal
InDecember2024,wefilledAmorCubanoinEast Harlemwiththevibrantenergyofcandombe— Afro-Uruguayantraditioninfull,livingcolor. SebastiánNataltransformedthenightintoa celebrationofrhythmandresistance.Fromthe firstbeatofthedrums,weweremoving, breathing,andconnectingthroughsound. Natal’smusicbridgedancestraldrummingwith jazzandfolk,invitingustofeeltheheartbeatof Montevideorightinourcity.Theroomswelled withjoyandthemusicwrappedarounduslike anembrace.
eOpenedtheYearwiththePulseofthe cestorsandFranciaReyes
nuarysetthetoneforourseasonaswe lcomedLaReinadelosPalos,FranciaReyes, AlianzaDominicanaCulturalCenterin ashingtonHeights.Reyessummonedthedeep ritualrhythmsofDominicanpalos,salves,and ngos,callingusintoasharedremembranceof o-Dominicanheritage.Thesoundofthe ums,thecall-and-response,themovementof diesinsync—itremindedusthatthese ditionsarenotrelics,butliving,breathing actices.Together,wehonoredtherootsthat urishusandthecommunitythatsustainsus. rheartfeltthanksgotoAlianzaDominicana openingtheirdoorsandheartstomakethis htpossible.
WeDancedintoDominicanIndependence DaywithYasserTejeda
February27markedourthirdconsecutive yearcelebratingDominicanIndependence DaywithYasserTejeda,thistimeatDutch BabyBakery!Itwasnothingshortofmagical. Yasserbroughthisunmistakableblendof Afro-Dominicanrhythmsandmodern sounds,fillingthespacewithmusicthat speakstobothpastandpresent.Wesaw wide-eyedchildrendancingbesideelders, fanssingingalong,andfirst-timersswept intothepowerofthebeat.Itfeltlikea homecoming.Wearedeeplygratefulto Yasserandhisincredibleteam,andwesend loveandthankstoKarahRempe,HugoPinto, andthewholeDutchBabycrewformaking usfeelsowelcome.
WeFellintothePassionofTangowithPedro Giraudo
InMay,wegatheredatCabriniShrine’s ImmigrationCenterforaneveningof Argentinetango.PedroGiraudoandhis tangoquartetinvitedusintoaworldof sweepingmelodiesandintimateemotion.As themusicunfolded,weweretransported— eachnotesteepedinlonging,movement, andthelayeredstoriesofmigrationand identity.Giraudo’sartistrymovedthroughthe roomlikepoetry,andtogetherwewere remindedoftango’spowertocapturethe unspokenandthein-between.Itwasan eveningofelegance,rootedinculturalpride andsharedexperience.
WeCelebratedEveryColorofPrideatStarrBar
InJune,ourannualPrideVarietyShowbroughtustoStarr BarinBushwick,wherewecelebratedtheboundless creativityofNewYorkCity’squeerartists.Throughmusic, poetry,andperformance,wewitnessedbeauty,joy,and resistanceineveryform.Theenergywaselectric—raw, defiant,anddeeplyaffirming.Thiswasn’tjustanightof entertainment;itwasalovelettertoourLGBTQ+ community.Wewerehonoredtosharespacewithartists whocontinuetocarveoutspacesofvisibilityand liberation.Pride,forus,ismusic.Prideismovement.Prideis presence.
WeClosedwithaCelebrationofLegacyatthe2025 MulticulturalMusicEncounters
Toendourseason,welookedback—andforward—withthe 2025editionofMulticulturalMusicEncounters,featuring workswe’vecommissionedbetween2010-2020.With performancesbyourMMGOrchestraandSymphonic YouthOrchestra,werevisitedpiecesbyBrucePurse, RobertoNavarro,DonaldHarrison,LuisColumna,Luis Mojica,andBennyRussell.Itwasapowerfuleveningof reflectionandgratitude.Aseachcompositionunfolded,we felttheechoesofthepastandthepromisesofthefuture.
Thisiswhatwe’vebuilttogether anarchiveofsound,a testamenttothetransformativepowerofmulticultural music.
Aswecloseour29thyear,wedosowithimmensepride andgratitude.Thesesixeventscarriedusacross continents,acrosstime,andintoeachother’sarms.Thank youforwalkingthisjourneywithus.Wecan’twaitto celebrate30yearsofmusic,memory,andcommunitywith you.
ROOTING FOR OUR YOUTH
NurturingtheNextGeneration:OurOngoing CommitmenttoYouththroughMottHallandthe SymphonicYouthProgram
Thisyear,wedeepenedourcommitmenttonurturingyoungmusicians throughourongoingworkwiththeMottHallSchoolandourSymphonic YouthProgram(SYP) twovibrantspaceswheretalent,discipline,andjoy cometogethertoshapetheartistsoftomorrow.
AtMottHall,webegantheyearwithanincredible80studentsign-ups—an overwhelmingshowofenthusiasmthatreflectedjusthowdeeplyour programmingresonateswithyoungpeople.Fromthere,wesuccessfully evaluated35studentstoformafullorchestra.Thesestudentshavesince grownintoacohesivemusicalensemble,preparingandperforming acrossmultipleeventsthroughouttheyear.
WithsupportfromTeachersCollege–ColumbiaUniversity,wecarriedout formalevaluationstotrackeachstudent’smusicaldevelopmentand impact.Theseassessmentsoffermorethanjustfeedback theyreflect theprogress,confidence,andpridethatstudentsgainthroughour curriculum.Froma30-minutewinterconcerttotwospringperformances, plusaspecialfieldtriptoLincolnCenter,ourstudentsexperiencedthe poweroflivemusicandthejoyofsharingitwiththeircommunities.
Theirfinalpresentations atboththeirmiddleschoolgraduationandour culminatingconcertonJune29 weremetwithresoundingsupport. Parentspackedtheroom,beamingwithpride,theircheersechoingwhat wealreadyknow:thisworkmatters.Andourstudentsknowittoo.Their writtentestimonialssayitbest—storiesofgrowth,inspiration,and belongingthatspeakvolumesabouttheimpactofourprograms.These aremorethanmusiclessons;theyarelifelessonswrappedinmelody.
Aswelookahead,weremainrootedinthebeliefthatyoutharenotjust thefuture theyarethenow.Andthroughourpartnershipsand programming,we’llcontinuetogivethemthetools,thestage,andthe confidencetoshine.
TESTIMONIALS FROM STUDENTS
“Youhavenotonlyputasmileonmyface,buton manyotherkidstoo.Thankyouforallowingmeto havethisexperiencebecausewithoutyourhelpI wouldhaveneverbeenapartofthiscommunity thatIwillcherishforever.”
“Iwasagoodsaxophoneplayer,andit’sallbecauseofmy instructorWill,andbecauseofTimo. They’vehadalargeimpactonhowI’veplayed,andwill foreverinspiremetodobetter.”
“Idon’tknowifIcanexplainallmygratitudetowardsyou inaletterbutIwilldomybest.Firstandmostimportantly youdidthis!Youkeepthisamazingprogramalive.We owetheworldtoyou.You’vehelpedhundredsofchildren findapassionformusic.Andtrustme,outofeveryone hereIknowhowhealingmusiccanbe.”
ENSURING GROWTH
WeWelcomedThreeBoardMembers
Thisyear,weproudlywelcomedthreenewboardmembers, eachbringingauniqueblendofexpertise,vision,and dedicationthatwillhelpshapethefutureofour organization.
JuanVargas,VicePresidentandDirectorofRetailDigital LendingatPonceBank,joineduswithavibrantportfolioasa promoter,artist,andproducer.Throughhisproject, Bachatería—aculturalstapleinNewYorkCity—Juanhas longchampionedDominicanandLatinxculture.
ErumNaqvicameonboardastheDeputyDirectorat CommunitasAmerica.Withastrongbackgroundin programdevelopment,strategiccommunications,and transformativesocialresearch,Erumbringsinvaluable expertiseinsocioeconomicanalysisandeducational consulting.
WealsowelcomedEsmeraldaHerrera,DeputyDirectorof CapacityProgramsatEchoingGreen.Withoveradecadeof experienceadvancingsocialchangethrough entrepreneurship,Esmeraldahasmadelasting contributionstotheBronxandHarlem.Herglobal experience spanningIndia,China,Haiti,andtheDominican Republic deepensherlocalimpact.
Together,Juan,Erum,andEsmeraldahavealreadybegunto energizeourwork,andwe’rereadytofollowtheirbold leadershipintothenextchapter.
ASpaceforNewPedagogiesRootedinSocialEmotionalLearning
Thisyear,TheTrebleClef,ourbelovednewsletter,foundarenewedpurpose. Whatbeganasaspaceforupdatesandannouncementshasgrowninto somethingmuchdeeper:aplatformforreflection,education,and transformation.Withafreshdesignandeditorialdirection,TheTrebleClef nowfeaturesoriginalarticlesthatilluminatepivotalhistoricalmomentsand serveasvitalprimaryresourcesforeducators,students,andculturalworkers alike.
We’veexploredthepoliticalmessagesembeddedinmerenguemusicofthe 1980s,revealinghowrhythmandresistancemovedhandinhandduringa criticalmomentinDominicanhistory.We’veshedlightontheoftenoverlookedplightoftheSahrawipeople,connectingglobalstrugglesfor sovereigntyandidentitythroughsoundandstory.We’verevisitedpostKatrinaNewOrleanstoexaminetheculturalrecoverythatfollowed devastation andtheroleofmusicinhealingandrebuilding.Andmost recently,we’vebroughtrenewedattentiontothecaseofMariquitaand Encarnación,twoAfro-Uruguayanwomenwhoselivesspeakvolumesabout silence,memory,andjustice.
Witheachissue,weaimtosparkdialogue,deepenunderstanding,andoffer practicaltoolsforeducators,makingiteasiertobringcomplexhistoriesand urgentconversationsintotheclassroom.We’reproudofthedirectionThe TrebleClefistakingandexcitedforwhat’sahead.
NewPartnerships,NewPossibilities
Thisyear,weproudlylaunchedpartnershipswithfivenewvenuesthat helpedusbringourmissiontomorecommunitiesacrossthecity.Weare excitedtoseewherethesenewpartnershipswilltakeusduringour30 anniversary.
th
OurcollaborationwithAmorCubanoinEastHarlembeganwithSebastián Natal’svibrantcandombecelebration,featuringadiverselineupofAfroUruguayanperformers.
AtAlianzaDominicanainWashingtonHeights,LaReinadelosPalos FranciaReyesdrew57attendeesandbroughtover25newsubscribersto ourlist alongsidestrongcommunitycallsformoreAfro-Dominican musicevents.
DutchBabyBakeryinWashingtonHeights/Inwoodhostedapacked houseforYasserTejeda’sannualIndependenceDayshow,with40+ guestsand30+newsubscribers.TheownersareeagertohostmoreMMG events.
WereturnedtoCabriniShrineinInwood,continuingatrustedpartnership, thistimewithPedroGiraudo’stangoquartet—welcoming22guestsand10 newsubscribersdespitetherain.
OurPrideVarietyShowatStarrBarmarkedthestartofalivelynew collaboration,celebratingqueerartiststoafullhouse. Thesenewandrenewedpartnershipsarehelpingusgrow onevenue, onerhythm,onecommunityatatime.
AtaGlance
havebeenimpactedbyourwork througheducationandcultural programming.
AboutMMG
The MMG is a nonprofit organization devoted to creating and presenting new symphonic music, promoting research of hidden aspects of history, and providing direct student instruction in multicultural instrumental music. Our initiativesaimtopromoteglobalunderstanding,socialjusticeawareness,and diversity in the symphonic repertoire. We strive to broaden our musical repertoire to reflect the rich diversity of our communities. Our vision includes fair historical portraits of underrepresented communities in educational and artisticfields Wefulfillthisthroughnewmusiccommissionsbycomposersof color and providing professional, economically accessible programming to the public. We supplement our presentations with scholarly research and open dialogue to deepen our listening, learning, and cross-cultural experiences.
