The Music Conservatory of Westchester Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Music instructionthe music conservatory of westchester (mcw) is a nonprofit community music school founded in 1929 in the american settlement house tradition of community service and the european conservatory tradition of excellence. Legendary cellist pablo casals was among its founders, and jazz legend cab calloway once served on its board. Mcw's mission is to provide the extraordinary benefits of music to all in our community. Today, we serve 2,800 students of all ages, abilities and backgrounds: 800 who take lessons and classes in our white plains facility and 2000 who participate in outreach programs on collaboration with 30 community partners. Our white plains facility feature 39 teaching studios, recital hall, piano lab, technology lab, and a recording studio with large main studio and control room. The studio is networked to the recital hall, enabling recording and live-streaming of all performances.our music programs include one-on-one instrumental and vocal instruction, performing ensembles, theory, composition, music production, early childhood classes, summer programs and workshops, lifelong learning for adults, and free community performances. Instruction is provided by a faculty of 74 professional musicians and educators, the majority of whom hold master or doctoral degrees. We additionally offer three specialized curricula for high school students: honors certificate program for serious, talented high school instrumentalists, with requirements for performance, music theory and ensemble participation. Mcw theatre arts prep which provides comprehensive training for high school students interested in a career in musical theater. The program includes vocal training as well as classes in music theory, acting, dance, and recording techniques for singers. Music production and recording, offering comprehensive project-based training in audio and video, digital audio workspace (daw), sound design and effects, songwriting and composition, arranging, podcasting and videography techniques. Our scholarship program provides need-based tuition assistance for financially deserving students, ensuring they can pursue music training from preschool through high school. Scholarship program alumni have been accepted to the nation's top universities and conservatories, including university of chicago, yale university, New York university, johns hopkins university, columbia university, the juilliard school, peabody conservatory, Indiana university school of music, and many others. Our alumni include professors at johns hopkins university and mit, a music teacher in rochester ny, a local pediatrician, a member of the New York philharmonic, two internationally acclaimed pianists, the music director of the milwaukie symphony, and thousands of alumni in countless professions right here in westchester and all around the nation. The conservatory looks forward to celebrating our centennial in 2029. One of only 16 community music schools nationwide to hold accreditation from the national association of schools of music, the conservatory has inspired generations of students and contributed to a vibrant musical life in the county, the region and beyond.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 89.2%; rating input score 89
• Program expense ratio: 85.6%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $2.85 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 8; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 100%; rating input score 100; 72nd percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: -3.7%; rating input score 22; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.65; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.31; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 14.8%; rating input score 19; 19th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 4% per year; rating input score 100; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.3% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 0.4% per year; rating input score 100; 14th percentile among comparable filings