Neighborhood Music School (NMS) is the largest non-profit community arts organization in Connecticut and one of the 10 largest in the country. Founded in 1911 as part of the settlement house movement serving new immigrants to New Haven and now serving more than 3,000 students from 80-plus cities and towns annually, NMS continues its mission to create community, spark potential and share joy through the arts.
NMS students, ranging in age from toddlers to seniors in their 90’s, and representing a diversity of socioeconomic backgrounds, study music, dance and drama and participate in over 100 weekly ensembles.
NMS offers individual and group instruction on 30+ instruments and presents more than 250 performances each year. NMS also houses a certified arts-integrated preschool, several summer programs and provides over $220,000 in financial aid and tuition support for more than 500 students each year, including nearly 100 from New Haven Public Schools.
