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Every gift here pays for a child’s seat.

COS keeps tuition below what it actually costs to teach a child, and no family has been turned away for money since 1962. Donations are what make that arithmetic hold.
Donations are 100% tax-deductible.
One student

From never touching a violin to Carnegie Hall

It was a scene out of a John Hughes movie.
Chapter 1: The Beginning

Matthew Ortega had never had a private violin lesson. As a first-generation Colombian-American from a low-income family, instruments were a luxury beyond reach.
Chapter 2: The Opportunity

In 11th grade, pure grit and raw talent earned him a spot in our violin section. No private lessons. No expensive equipment. Just determination.
Chapter 3: The Transformation

Two years later, Matthew performed at Carnegie Hall for our 50th Anniversary. But that wasn't the moment that changed everything...
Chapter 4: The Moment

When Matthew was presented a New York Big Apple Music Festival certificate of participation, his mother—who had sacrificed everything as an immigrant who didn't speak the language—cried tears of joy like he'd never seen. It was one of the happiest moments of her life.
Chapter 5: The Future

Dr. Ma's mentorship and recommendation letter helped this first-generation student earn a FULL scholarship to Emory University. Today, Matthew says: "Everything I have pursued connects back to the foundation I built at COS."

Matthew’s scholarship changed his life. Your gift provides scholarships for children just like him.

Give a scholarship
Why it matters

Three reasons the scholarship fund exists.

The music education crisis

Public school music programs have been slashed. For many children, COS is their only chance to learn an instrument.

The affordability gap

Private lessons cost $75-$150 per hour in NYC. Many of our families cannot afford any music education without scholarships.

The waiting list reality

Talented children are waiting for scholarships. Your gift determines how many we can accept.
Wide · the orchestra a scholarship pays for, full stage

We reach out to young musicians of all levels with “fire in the belly” and limited financial means through scholarships. Your support enables COS to fulfill its mission, to nurture children through the gentle and firm guidance of our faculty.

Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma, Executive Director
Dr. Yeou-Cheng Ma with a student · unposed, natural light

Somebody paid for the seat Matthew sat in.

Pay for the next one.
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