The Harlem School of the Arts

Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) is an art school in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City.

Harlem School of the Arts was founded in 1964, by soprano Dorothy Maynor. Maynor was succeeded by mezzo-soprano Betty Allen as President in 1979, when a new 37,000 square foot facility designed by Ulrich Franzen was completed. Other presidents included Allicia Adams, Camille Akjeu, and Daryl Durham. Since August 2015, Eric G. Pryor has been the president and CEO.

In 2005, the school was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Despite the Great Recession of 2010, the Harlem School of the Arts stabilized its fiscal position following a $6 million gift.

Courses

The school offers courses in four disciplines; music, theatre, visual arts, and dance. Courses in music include classical, jazz, gospel, R & B, electronic and world music. Dance courses include ballet, modern, ethnic, jazz, and tap dance. In addition to theater classes, the visual art department offers courses which include sculpture and photography (digital and film). The school's students are of diverse cultural backgrounds, and tuition is relatively inexpensive in contrast to similar educational institutions in the United States. HSA provides financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis through the generous donations on the Herb Alpert Foundation and other generous benefactors.

Early history

In 1964, internationally acclaimed concert soprano Dorothy Maynor opened Harlem School of the Arts in the basement of the St. James Presbyterian Church in Harlem at a time when the community suffered severe physical blight, high levels of poverty, and few cultural resources for its young people. The school was featured in the May 1966 issue of Ebony Magazine.

In May 1979, under the leadership of Maynor's handpicked successor, opera singer Betty Allen, HSA opened its state-of-the-art 37,000 square foot, award-winning facility nestled at the base of the historic Hamilton Heights.

Notable alumni

Over the past 25 years, HSA alumni have experienced near 100% acceptance rate to prestigious high schools, colleges, universities and conservatories, including Berklee College of Music, Wesleyan University, New York University, Hofstra, SUNY Purchase, American Academy of Dramatic Arts and Fordham University, Hunter College High School, The Ailey School, and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.
* 2008 Tony Award winner De’Adre Aziza
* Actor Caleb McLaughlin
* Actor Giancarlo Esposito
* Composer and arranger Ray Chew
* Shannon Sky Tavarez
* Opera singer Harolyn Blackwell
* Opera singer Noah Stewart
* Actress Ya Ya DaCosta
* Award-winning playwright Katori Hall
* Reality Star Karlie Redd

Notable faculty

* J. D. Parran
* Dorothy Maynor
* Betty Allen
* Arthur Mitchell
* Eric G. Pryor
* Yvette L. Campbell
* Alfred Preisser
* Aubrey Lynch II

Timeline

* 1947: After an international career as an opera singer, on April 21, 1947, Dorothy Maynor incorporates the St. James Community Center, Inc. in the basement of the St. James Presbyterian Church, where her husband was the pastor.
* 1964: Officially renamed The Harlem School of the Arts. Mrs. Samuel Duskin and Mrs. Artur Rodzinski elected Co-Chairmen of the Board of Trustees
* 1966: Arthur Mitchell, leading dancer with New York City Ballet, joins faculty. School is at full capacity with 300 students enrolled. May 17 – New York State Award presented to the school by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller for "outstanding dedication and accomplishment in developing the artistic talents of the children of Harlem.” Five children from the school performed at the event, held at Union College in Schenectady. John Philip Sousa III (grandson of the famous “ march king”) elected Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Mrs. Vladimir Horowitz forms Women's Committee with Leontyne Price serving as Honorary Chairman.
* 1967: The New York Times publishes article “To Make Beauty in Harlem” on HSA November 5, “What we are counting on is that we can add new dimensions to their lives, the most important of which is beauty.” – Dorothy Maynor
* 1969: HSA inaugurates its new theater faculty with a production of Aime Cesaire's A Season in the Congo. The new theater was converted from an abandoned garage.
* 1972: Dorothy Maynor serves as visiting lecturer for Yale University's Department of Drama (1971–72)
* 1974: The Harlem School of the Arts Heritage Society One Hundred Voice Choir, with Dorothy Maynor as conductor, makes its Lincoln Center debut on March 4. The sold out Gala Benefit Performance at Alice Tully Hall features soloists Betty Lane; Louise Parker, George Shirley and McHenry Boatwright with a surprise performance by Metropolitan Opera star Martina Arroyo. The Honorable Mayor Abraham D. Beame and Mrs. Beame are honorary chairmen, and Ms. Alice Tully is Chairman of the event.
* 1975: HSA celebrates its 10th anniversary and breaks ground for the new building. The Heritage Society Chorus also performs at the United Nations in celebration of Human Rights Day, and HSA Founder Dorothy Maynor becomes the first woman to conduct at the U.N.On March 4, New York City Mayor Abraham Beame issues a proclamation to “Dorothy Maynor In recognition of her outstanding career as a world renowned soprano and her devotion to the people of New York. Her Harlem School of the Arts has given an entire community entrée to the World of Art.”
* 1977: HSA inaugurates its Opportunities for Learning in the Arts program, which provides arts instruction to children in NYC public schools, in response to severe cuts in city funding for public school arts programs.
* 1978: The Municipal Art Society presents HSA with its Citation of Merit in recognition of the school's distinctive contribution to the cultural life of New York City. On June 6, The Bard Awards for excellence in architecture and urban design cite HSA building architects Ulrich Franzen & Associates for the design of the building, with special mention of “a grand and welcoming central hall, an attractive exterior courtyard and a myriad of lively class and practice rooms.” Dorothy Maynor is presented with the Louis Armstrong Award from the Knickerbocker Business and Professional Women's Club, Inc. The award is presented by Mrs. Louis Armstrong.
* 1979: HSA's new building is dedicated. Founder Dorothy Maynor retires, appointing internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Betty Allen as new President & CEO.
* 1982: Harlem School of the Arts Orchestra is formed. 50 children between the ages of six and thirteen perform at the opening of Central Park's Belvedere Castle
* 1988: ARTScape Summer Program is introduced. Gala opening of the 25th anniversary season of HSA begins with a benefit concert at the Apollo Theater. Actress Phylicia Rashad and pianist Andre Watts are honorary co-chairs. Maestro Zubin Mehta conducts the New York Philharmonic.
* 1989: HSA enters new relationship with classical radio station WQXR, and launches annual radiothon on-air fundraiser.
* 1990: Student enrollment at HSA exceeds 1,500 for the first time.
* 1992: November 4, 1992 – HSA Concert Chorale, “Legaci”, directed by Yvonne Hatchett, performs at the One Hundred Year Association at The Museum of City of New York.August 10, 1992 – HSA presents The Marie Brooks Caribbean Dance Theater in performance, followed by Ruby Dee, who reads from her new children's book, Glow Child at HSA. July 1992 – HSA students perform at a reception hosted by democratic committee Chairman Ron Brown's wife, Mrs. Alma Brown during the Democratic Convention held in NYC. Audience members included Tipper Gore, Hillary Clinton, Virginia Kelly (Bill Clinton's mother), and Joyce Dinkins, wife of former NYC Mayor David Dinkins. Betty Allen becomes President Emeritus of HSA, and Alicia Adams is named CEO.
* 1993: Miranda McDermott, HSA Chairperson of the Drama and Creative Writing Department for nearly 3 decades, awarded a Harlem School of the Arts Humanitarian Award. Fourth annual WQXR Radiothon, Co-hosted by radio host Robert Sherman and Ms. Betty Allen, President of HSA, features celebrities such as Bobby Short, Martina Arroyo and Mario Barnardi, conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, who lend their support to share why arts education is so important. HSA students Oswald Tomlinson and Faith Wallace-Badensen win first and second prizes respectively in a photography competition sponsored by The Black Photographers Circle of The Center for Creative Photographers at Hunter College/CUNY. HSA student Nkenge Simpson takes first place at New York Newsday's Lena Horne Vocal Scholarship Competition.
* 1994: Max Roach and Urban Bush Women are Artists-in-Residence at HSA.
* 1996: Harlem School of the Arts Founder Dorothy Maynor passes away in West Chester, PA at the age of 85.
* 1999: HSA is named one of the eight leading African-American, Asian, Latino or Native American arts organizations in the nation.
* 2000: Camille Giraud Akeju, a former HSA student, becomes President and CEO of HSA.
* 2001:The Classical Theatre of Harlem serves as HSA Artists-in-Residence.
* 2002: October 12, 2002 – 1st Annual HSA Alumni Homecoming. Honorary Chairperson, Inaugural Homecoming Committee, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Faculty Alumna and star of ABC's The Practice; Guest Host, Claudio Lescano. Alumni include Charles Lovel, pianist; Camille Giraud Akeju, HSA President & CEO; T. Ray Lawrence, bass-baritone; Priscilla Baskerville, soprano; Gwendolyn Bynum, pianist accompanist; Patricia Bates Eaton, professional chorister with Metropolitan Opera, NYC. The Classical Theatre of Harlem serves as HSA Artists-in-Residence.
* 2007: HSA dance students work with London-based choreographer Adesola Akinleye and dancer Sean Graham as Akinleye develops a new work inspired by Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.
* 2008: HSA and the African Film Festival New York present The 2nd Annual Harlem Teen Film Festival. HSA honors Actress Alfre Woodard, Deloitte CEO Barry Salzberg and Opera Legend Betty Allen at Art Is Life Gala. HSA presents Prolepsis, the first group exhibition of works by HSA Teaching Artists, and introduces The G-Space Gallery, the newest contemporary gallery space in Harlem. HSA presents the Harlem Teen Film Festival, celebrating the works of Harlem and Greater New York teen filmmakers (12–18), in collaboration with the Ghetto Film School, the Downtown Community Television Center, Pro-TV and the Global Action Project.
* 2011: Yvette L. Campbell becomes new President and CEO of HSA. Mayor Bloomberg names Saint Nicholas Avenue at 141st Street Dorothy Maynor Place. HSA board and new leadership successfully complete two matching fundraising campaigns each raising over $100 million: 100 days $1 million, and Herb Alpert Challenge.
* 2013: The Harlem School of the Arts building is renamed The Herb Alpert Center in honor of leadership gift from musician and philanthropist Herb Alpert.
* 2014: For the second consecutive year, Harlem School of the Arts remains one of only four affiliate schools in the world to offer the American Ballet Theatre National Ballet Curriculum to its dance students. Jazz club Minton's presented HSA's Advanced Jazz Combo as part of a three part Sunday Jazz Brunch Series: Rising Stars of Jazz. Jazz at Lincoln Center conducted 3 Jazz for Young people concerts at HSA. GRAMMY award-winning musician, Arturo O’Farrill returns as HSA Artist-in-Residence.
* 2015: For the third consecutive year, Harlem School of the Arts remains one of only four affiliate schools in the world to offer the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) National Ballet Curriculum to its dance students. HSA ballet faculty, certified in the ABT National curriculum.
* 2019: "The Renaissance Project", an extensive renovation, was announced at a cost of $9.5 million.
* 2020: The school receives a donation from the Herb Alpert Foundation and makes renovations led by Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG).

References

;Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harlem School of the Arts, The
Art schools in New York City
Schools of the performing arts in the United States
Universities and colleges in Manhattan
Harlem
Hamilton Heights, Manhattan
Performing arts education in New York City
Education companies established in 1964
Educational institutions established in 1964
1964 establishments in New York City
Education in Harlem