Recognizing and honoring the Settlement Music School on the occasion of its 114th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, The Settlement Music School is an inclusive community school offering 10,000 services each week in music, dance, and arts therapy across the Greater Philadelphia region; and

WHEREAS, Founded in 1908 by Jeanette Selig Frank and Blanche Wolf Kohn as the music program of the College Settlement in the Southwark section of Philadelphia, the Settlement Music School is one of the largest and oldest community schools of the arts in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The school grew rapidly from small, volunteer-based lessons to full program instruction taught by professionals, including several members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. By 1914, Settlement was incorporated as an independent community school of the arts; and

WHEREAS, To ensure a quality education is accessible to all students - regardless of zip code or economic circumstance - the Settlement Music School offers more than $2 million in financial and scholarship assistance each year; 60 percent of students receive funding from the school; and

WHEREAS, In addition to individual lessons and activities, the Settle Music School offers a five-days-a-week, arts-centered preschool and collaborates with outside preschools and elementary schools to incorporate quality arts programing; and

WHEREAS, To overcome the challenges posed to in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, the school launched Settlement Music Online to provide virtual lessons. The program currently reaches students across 18 states; and

WHEREAS, Settlement Music School students have gone on to prestigious careers in music, dance, education, politics, science, becoming Nobel Laureates, MacArthur Fellows, Pulitzer Prize winners, Fulbright scholars, published authors, and Grammy Award winners. Notable alumni include Christian McBride, Kevin Eubanks, Questlove, Chubby Checker, Albert Einstein, G. Love, and Kevin Bacon; and

WHEREAS, The Settlement Music School is an outstanding local resource for aspiring musicians and artists; Philadelphians of all ages and backgrounds are well-served by its renowned programming; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby recognizes and honors the Settlement Music School on the occasion of its 114th Anniversary.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to the Settlement Music School, further evidencing the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

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