Phoenix Conservatory of Music's College Prep Program Receives Top Federal Award for After School Arts Programs

PHOENIX, Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Phoenix Conservatory of Music was recognized with a 2017 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, the nation's highest honor for after school arts and humanities programs. PCM was one of 12 organizations across the country to receive the honor, which recognizes effectiveness in promoting learning and life skills in young people by engaging them through creative youth development programs.  

"Phoenix is home to an incredible arts community, and organizations like the Phoenix Conservatory of Music are key to the city's cultural vibrancy," Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton said. "This award is testament to the great work PCM is doing to expose children in our community to the arts and music education."

The awardees—chosen from a pool of 350 nominations and 50 finalists—were recognized for improving literacy and language abilities, communication and performance skills, and cultural awareness.

The award is the latest recognition to highlight the Conservatory's work with students. Earlier this year, Phoenix Conservatory of Music was a recipient of the 2017 Mayor's Arts Awards for Innovative Organization of the Year, and in 2015 received the Arizona Governor's Arts Award for Arts Education Organization. 

In addition to Marcus Wolf, 16, of Phoenix, Arizona receiving the award along with Phoenix Conservatory of Music Executive Director, Regina Nixon; Phoenix Conservatory of Music provided the student performance for the awards ceremony.  PCM Students Lourde Childs, 13, of Peoria, Arizona and Michael Rodriguez, 15, of Phoenix, Arizona traveled to our Nation's Capital on November 09, 2017 and performed for the heads of our Federal Arts and Humanities Agencies.  They performed Man In The Mirror recorded by Michael Jackson, written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett; produced by Quincy Jones, and received a standing ovation.  https://youtu.be/QXC2YNMWLVQ?t=30m35s

Phoenix Conservatory of Music provides a continuum of high quality music education and experiences to hundreds of students annually, with programs ranging from introductory level in-house education programs and after school programs to more advanced private lessons and the most prestigious College Prep Program for contemporary music education in the state: The Berklee College of Music's City Music Network and P.U.L.S.E. programs.   Since the inception of PCM's College Prep Program in 2010, the program is providing a pathway for students to achieve their dreams- one note at a time.  With 3-10 hours per week of low to no cost engagement, the organization provides students 4-12 grades with private music lessons, music theory classes, enrichment classes and Popular Music Ensembles.  They have a 95% graduation rate (compared to an 86% in the local community and a 77% in the state), 71% go on to college or university, 43% of those students are studying music or music related fields, and they have earned more than $1 million in Scholarship Offers.

Media Contacts:  Leigh Dow, [email protected], 480.522.5925
Regina Nixon, Executive Director, 623.826.0625 (cell), [email protected]

PHOTOS: Photos and photo captions from the Washington ceremony are available for download Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHsm8NdKE3    Awards Ceremony Video: https://youtu.be/QXC2YNMWLVQ

SOURCE Phoenix Conservatory of Music