all volunteer

In 1996, alarmed by federal, state and local cuts in performing arts and music education budgets, a group of friends in the music industry realized that arts education in American was in a state of emergency. We came together to see what we do about it, and IFEPA was born.

We are an all-volunteer 501(c)3 non-profit working as a labor of love. We are actors, ambassadors, architects, attorneys, authors, doctors, educators, executives, musicians, patrons and professors who share a vision of reviving performing arts education in America's public schools.

In our first ten years of piloting successful programs in Chicago and Los Angeles, we have never had a single paid staff member. Instead, IFEPA has primarily been a founder-funded organization with help from friends who have donated their time and talent. We currently have volunteers in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego and San Francisco, and are always looking for more.

We believe that playing on center stage is as important in a child's development as playing in center field and that the orchestra pit is as necessary as the baseball dugout. Scientific studies have proven that the performing arts, especially music, are a vital core component of a well-rounded K-12 education−as important as any other course of extracurricular activity.

In California alone, student participation in music education has declined by 50 percent during the last five years, the largest of any academic subject area. Due to disproportionate budget cuts, local school boards have altogether eliminated almost 30 percent of the state's music teachers.

Roger Williams performs for students at Verdugo High School in Southern California.



Worse still, during this five year free fall, participation in general music courses has declined by a shocking 85 percent. All of this is occurring despite overwhelming scientific evidence that young music makers out-perform their peers on SAT scores and live healthier, happier lives.

We know that true talent can only be developed through intensive training, and believe that every child, whether privileged or poor, should have access to the instruments and instructors necessary to make music a major part of their early development. We hope that you will join us in fulfilling our mission.

the prodigies

Most important of all, IFEPA is a growing body of students that we have helped put on a pathway to the arts. From beginning band students to child prodigies like the Pae Brothers who perform professionally with philharmonic orchestras the world over, young people are the sole focus of our efforts and energy.