On September 17, Conservatory Lab was one of 23 non-profits honored by a grant from the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA).
“At the heart of the MCCA’s mission is a responsibility to give back to the communities we serve,” said Marcel Vernon, Sr., Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. “The recipients of these grants inspire us with their commitment to making Boston a stronger and more resilient city.”
Conservatory Lab was joined by like-minded organizations including All Dorchester Sports & Leadership, Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound, Hyde Square Task Force, and Boston City Singers, a partner in our OST (Out-of-School Time) program.
MCCA’s grant was specifically aimed at supporting instrumental rentals and maintenance for Conservatory Lab’s El Sistema Music Program. At Conservatory Lab, every single student plays a musical instrument, starting in the 1st grade. Every student is assigned an instrument that is theirs exclusively to play during the school year and students are encouraged to take their instruments home evenings and weekends.
No student pays tuition at Conservatory Lab and there is no fee or deposit for the musical instrument, which costs the school approximately $100,000 every year. The grant from MCCA will cover approximately nine large basses for the 2025/26 School year, which means that there are over 300 instruments where individual philanthropy can make an immediate impact in ensuring equitable access to arts education at our public K-8 school.