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Inspiring Change Makers

Leading Through Collaboration & Community

Founded in 2018 by philanthropist Daniel R. Lewis, The Lewis Prize for Music believes young people with access to high-quality music learning, performance and creation opportunities will mature into thriving individuals. Inequitable systems often fail to prioritize music learning in young people’s lives. As a result, too many young people are not supported to express themselves creatively. This stifles young people’s potential to become powerful citizens, who through musical pursuits learn to contribute positively to their communities.

We are immensely inspired by these 10 leaders who build positive change in their communities through music. By supporting music leaders across the country to continue their great work, The Lewis Prize for Music hopes to inspire other partners to work together to ensure every young person has the opportunity to access transformative music learning, performance and creation. 

All of The Lewis Prize for Music Finalists are doing extraordinary work to build community, foster engaged citizens and support the holistic growth of young people through the catalytic force of music.

"The eight 2021 Accelerator Award Finalists show us all that giving youth opportunities to express themselves through music improves their own cognitive and emotional development and their community’s well being," says founder Daniel R. Lewis. "The pandemic has magnified the already apparent need to provide opportunity for young people in underserved and under-supported areas; youth with the same potential as those in the rest of the United States. These Finalists, and many other CYD organizations, nimbly adapted as an obligation to both COVID-19 and the racial justice movement. They committed to growing their relationships with student musicians, fostering a positive sense of worth and leadership, and adapted their offerings to remote learning – often helping provide devices and connectivity where needed, securing food for students and their families, and keeping their teaching artists employed.”

On January 12, 2021, we will announce the 2021 Accelerator Awards. 

To learn more about our upcoming funding and awarding cycles, please be sure to follow us on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts, and remember to sign up for updates via email.


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Dave W. Christopher Sr. and Academy of Music Production Education and Development (AMPED)

Louisville, Kentucky

AMPED is a free music program founded in 2014 that uses music and technology as a catalyst to empower youth and their families to work as a team, learn how to express themselves effectively, and develop into healthy, productive members of the community and the world. Through the power of music, over 1,700 young people from ages 8-18 are supported annually by AMPED throughout the Kentuckiana area. The program offers classes in music production, instrumental studies, vocal performance, creative writing, music history, and videography at no costs to students.

From its two locations in West Louisville, AMPED reaches young people in schools, community centers and juvenile justice settings. Along with direct music instruction, AMPED’s “Level Up: Mentoring with Music” program merges the reading and analysis of novels with the self expression of music making. Recognizing that young people need stable households to thrive, AMPED provides technology training to parents and assists with job placements. 

The organization’s Executive Director is Dave W. Christopher Sr. (he/him/his).  Learn more at https://ampedlouisville.org 


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Dantes Rameau and Atlanta Music Project

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

Founded in 2010, the Atlanta Music Project (AMP) provides intensive, tuition-free music education for underserved youth right in their neighborhood. AMP believes the pursuit of musical excellence leads to the development of confidence, creativity and ambition, thus sparking positive social change in individuals and their communities. Operating from its Center for Education and Performance, newly opened in 2019 and located in the Capitol View neighborhood, AMP partners with city recreation centers and schools to offer vocal and instrumental programs to elementary through high school students.

In support of their belief that all children are musical, AMP does not hold entrance auditions or require students to have any musical experience. The only thing required for a student to be in AMP is a commitment to attending all classes. The Atlanta Music Project provides instruments, classes, world-class teaching artists, and numerous performance opportunities for all of its students. AMP classes include orchestra, choir, musicianship, ear training, music theory, African drum and dance, and group lessons in violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, voice, piano and guitar.

The organization’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer is Dantes Rameau (he/him/his). Learn more at https://www.atlantamusicproject.org.


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Matthew Kerr, Christopher Thornton and Beyond the Bars

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Beyond The Bars, founded in 2015, is a student driven music and career skills program that is dedicated to interrupting the cycles of violence and incarceration while helping students recognize their immense potential and bright futures through the power of music. Whether it is witnessing traumatic events, experiencing underfunded schools and a lack of readily apparent opportunities, being the victim of physical, emotional or sexual violence or having endured the incarceration system in any capacity, students in the Beyond the Bars program have overcome many different obstacles to be the compassionate people they are.

Beyond the Bars offers programs using two main models: the Student Driven Music Academy and the Practical Producers Program. These programs are provided throughout North, West and Northeast Philadelphia in partnership with a wide range of organizations dedicated to the wellbeing of young people. Beyond the Bars serves students with instrumental lessons, performance opportunities, career planning, audio engineering lessons, songwriting instruction, and band based instruction guided by the voices and decisions of young people. 

The organization’s Co-Executive Directors are Matthew Kerr and Christopher Thornton (both he/him/his).  Learn more at https://beyondthebarsmusic.org 


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Celina Miranda and Hyde Square Task Force

Boston, Massachusetts

Hyde Square Task Force ((HSTF) was formed in the 1980s by a coalition of neighbors and leaders coming together to address the growing violence and related challenges facing the Hyde/Jackson neighborhood of Jamaica Plain. Now known as Boston’s Latin Quarter, the neighborhood has transformed with HSTF at the center of the effort. Despite the progress, like in other urban neighborhoods, youth continue to struggle with high levels of poverty, community violence and low-educational attainment.

Youth involved in HSTF receive instruction in dance, music and theatre, and use their art to explore and uplift issues affecting them and their communities. HSTF amplifies their voices through advocacy and organizing and uses Afro-Latin arts to bring neighbors together to strengthen the social fabric of the Latin Quarter. 

The organization’s Executive Director is Celina Miranda (she/her/hers). Learn more at https://www.hydesquare.org


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DeLashea Strawder and Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit

Detroit, Michigan

Founded by Rick Sperling in 1992 to address gaps in Metro Detroit arts education, Mosaic empowers young people to create positive changes in their lives and communities by helping them develop patterns of cooperation, disciplined work habits and effective problem-solving skills through the creation of high-quality, professional-level performances of theatre and music. By highlighting the immense talent of young Detroiters, Mosaic uplifts positive peer role models and develops young people who can view a more positive future for themselves and for their community.

Mosaic’s programs include Mosaic Singers, a year-round performance ensemble, multiple levels of theater performance training, apprenticeships in  backstage tech, school and community center residency programs, summer programs, and a playwriting composition competition. 

The organization’s Artistic and Executive Director is DeLashea Strawder (she/her/hers).  Learn more at https://mosaicdetroit.org 


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Susan Colangelo and Saint Louis Story Stitchers

SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI

Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective, founded in 2014 is composed of ten professional artists who collaborate with African American youth ages 16-24 to generate original work through a unique form of urban storytelling that includes hip hop, spoken word, photography and videography. They all work together to create social change with a focus on gun violence prevention. Stitchers collect stories, reframe and retell them through art, writing and performance to promote understanding, civic pride, intergenerational relationships and literacy. Operating out of a storefront studio in the historic St. Louis Delmar Loop District and performing in the communities where participating youth reside gives Story Stitchers a city-wide impact. Projects create a platform for community engagement through an artistic lens and with it the Saint Louis Story Stitchers shift perceptions and realities to bring hope to the Saint Louis community.

The organization’s Executive Director is Susan Colangelo (she/her/hers).  Learn more at https://storystitchers.org 


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Michael Reyes, Elizabeth Stone and We Are Culture Creators

Detroit, Michigan

We are Culture Creators (WACC) and its members pride themselves for being more than music makers. WACC provides high quality arts/entrepreneurship education to young people of color in Detroit with an emphasis on professional development, strategic goal setting, aesthetics, and artistic integrity. This education is held in a space that reflects their community and their culture, and is built on a foundation of family, inclusion, safety, access and love.

Founders Michael Reyes and Elizabeth Stone started with a simple idea: provide a loving and encouraging space for up and coming youth creatives and fill that space with the professional equipment and the necessary training to allow those young people to actualize their abilities, talents, goals, and dreams. They furthered that idea by providing workshops, practical training and discussions in financial literacy, artist management, community organizing, entrepreneurship and business. WACC has established itself as a growing and expanding program, providing young people with opportunities in both the fields of business and community. Participants are the next generation of Detroit entertainers and entrepreneurs.     

The organization’s Co-Founders and Co-Directors are Michael Reyes and Elizabeth Stone. Learn more at https://www.weareculturecreators.com/new-youth 


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Terri Winston and Women’s Audio Mission

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Women’s Audio Mission (WAM) is a San Francisco/Oakland-based nonprofit organization launched in 2003 that uses music and media to amplify and celebrate the voices of systematically under-resourced women, girls, and gender expansive individuals and empowers them to become the innovators of tomorrow. WAM has created a revolutionary approach to changing the face of sound by providing training in music production and the recording arts to over 4,000 girls/women/gender expansive individuals every year in the only professional recording studios in the world built and run entirely by women and gender expansive individuals.

Girls on the Mic is WAM’s groundbreaking and award-winning after-school program that trains and mentors over 3,000 Northern California girls and gender-expansive youth aged 11-18 who face systemic barriers to music and creative development opportunities. WAM partners with over 50 Northern California schools and community organizations to provide free hands-on music production and performance experiences, in addition to critical work experience, career counseling, and job placement in the music and media industries.

The organization’s Founder and Executive Director is Terri Winston (she/her/hers). Learn more at: https://womensaudiomission.org