NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Community Music Center’s annual online auction, where the public can bid on a plethora of items from locally beloved businesses, is now open until March 7.
The auction benefits equity and accessibility in music education, as the Northampton Community Music Center is the only nonprofit music school in Hampshire County that offers financial aid, making sure no one is ever turned away from an inability to pay.
“The thing we’re really proud of is that [with] our financial aid program, we’ve never had to turn away a qualifying student. If the need is there, we find money, and we’ve been able to sustain that for nearly 40 years,” said Community Music Center Executive Director Jason Trotta. “It’s for all ages. It’s from little babies in our early childhood programs taking music classes with their parents, all the way up to senior citizens; we have a senior citizen concert band program. It’s anybody who needs help. If they want to do it but they can’t afford it, it’s a simple application.”
Some items available in this year’s auction include concert tickets, museum passes, memberships, sporting goods, beauty and wellness services, gift cards, classes and more.
Trotta told Reminder Publishing that the fundraising effort supports the Community Music Center’s scholarship and outreach programs. The nonprofit arts organization brings quality education, performances and activities to more than 1,000 community members each year.
NCMC’s scholarship fund provides more than $70,000 in tuition assistance to more than 240 music students each year, about 27% of their student body. No qualifying student has ever been denied aid.
“I think we’re really fortunate to live in the valley that values music education and values the arts. The people who do have the means are more than happy to support the organization that’s helping people without the means,” said Trotta.
The goal of this upcoming auction is to raise $10,000, and 96 items are currently listed. Although the center spearheads various fundraisers throughout the year, Trotta said this auction every winter has become a consistent fundraising opportunity for the organization and its mission.
“Our connections are strong within the public schools, so we’re able to work with leaders in the public schools: music teachers, administrators, to make connections with families and let them know we have these services available,” said Trotta. “If there are kids entering the middle school and they’re going to take up an instrument and join band, but they don’t know how to play their instrument or don’t have access to one, whatever it is, we have the infrastructure here to help them. We’ve been doing it for a long time now so our reputation for being able to help has been strong.”
Scholarships through the Community Music Center extend to any of their programming, and private lessons are also available. Trotta said that the center’s motivation and passion to help people get connected with access to music is why their legacy has only grown since its founding in 1986.
“One of the great joys of learning music and engaging in making music is to do it with others, so we try to have a lot of ensemble programs speaking to people’s interests. We have jazz programs, rock programs; we’ve done bluegrass workshops. We’ve done choruses and all different things as we see the community need arise,” said Trotta.
Northampton Community Music Center has also expanded its music therapy program through a partnership with Westfield State University. Through this program, staff certified music therapists work with children on the autism spectrum through different opportunities in music. Trotta said that these opportunities can be incredible pathways to expression, connection and other life goals.
Trotta encourages the public to check out this year’s auction and continue support for the nonprofit and its mission to foster the love and pursuit of music within the community.
“What we love about the auction is anybody can shop on it. We have gift cards as low as $20 for anyone who wants to support a local business. There’s also a lot of services on there that are really cool, like massages and yoga classes, things like that,” said Trotta. “And then we have a week-long vacation in Puerto Rico, which is awesome, and that seems to be a really popular item this year. Anything in between, whatever people are looking for, there’s something there.”
To bid on the auction, visit ncmc.net/auction. For more information on the Northampton Community Music Center, visit ncmc.net/about.
