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The College of Music at Michigan State University is thrilled to announce a $1 million gift from the MSU Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU) in support of the new Detroit Regional Engagement and Access to Music Endowment (MSUFCU DREAM Fund), designed to provide sustainable resources to support outreach and engagement programs at the MSU Community Music School – Detroit (CMS-D). 

The gift is part of a $5.5 million commitment from MSUFCU that will advance three MSU art programs over five years and bolster the university’s arts strategy.

“Whether it be our highly successful MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program, our career-focused MSUFCU Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence program, or other initiatives over the years, the College of Music and the MSUFCU have an extensive history of creative, effective, and sustainable collaborations,” said College of Music Dean James Forger. “The MSUFCU DREAM Fund is a continuation of that strong partnership. It enhances the lives of many children and youth through access to sequential music education at our Community Music School in Detroit, provides a new and exciting concert series at the MSUFCU Detroit Marquette facility, and supports internships for MSU Music students through research, creative work and mentorship opportunities.”  

CMS-D has had a significant presence in the city since 2009. With the MSUFCU DREAM Fund endowment in place, CMS-D plans to empower Detroit youth through a K-12 sequential music education program, which includes a subsidized tuition program. Funds will also go toward instrument loans for CMS-D students in need as well as an MSUFCU Detroit Arts Leadership Engagement Program and an annual MSU On the Road at MSUFCU Detroit Concert Series.

“CMS-D is an incubator for artistic excellence and cultivates a diverse and connected community by providing opportunities for lifelong education, college and/or career readiness, mentorship, and belonging,” said CMS-D Director Kris Johnson. “We need partners who share our vision and are as committed as we are to removing barriers to music education in Detroit. I am extremely grateful that we have such a partner in MSUFCU.”

At CMS-D, students of all ages, from 0-100, can engage weekly in high quality and accessible sequential music education through early childhood music, music therapy, group and private lessons, youth ensembles, adult ensembles, and music production classes. 

“The vibrant cultural legacy within Detroit, combined with access to inspiring music education, is an undeniable recipe for the continued success of personal development, fostering enriched lives through the power of music,” Johnson said.

The $5.5 million gift includes $2.5 million for the MSUFCU Arts Power Up Endowment, which will fund two pilot programs: the MSUFCU Arts Power Up Arts Residencies at the STEAMpower Project, and the MSUFCU Arts Power Up to Start-Up program. Two million dollars will support the MSU Museum’s new CoLab Studio, which evolved from the museum’s partnership with Science Gallery International.

“Michigan State considers the arts to be key instruments of knowledge and understanding embedded across the university’s educational, research and creative endeavors,” MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. said. “Our arts strategy is an important component of the university’s strategic objectives of student, staff and faculty success, impactful innovation and diversity, equity and inclusion. I want to thank MSUFCU for sharing our vision and investing in this vital area.”

MSUFCU is one of MSU’s largest funders, investing more than $30 million over its history — half of which has gone to support the arts. Since 2008, MSUFCU has supported programming in the arts that has advanced career readiness, provided opportunities for students to work with high-caliber artists, offered lifelong learning programs in the performing arts and supported residency programs for artists and scholars.

“We are grateful for our partnership with, and the longstanding support of MSUFCU, which will help enhance the breadth and scope of MSU’s excellence in the arts,” said MSU Provost Teresa K. Woodruff, Ph.D. “This gift will expand access and opportunities to engage with the arts and help catalyze MSU’s new arts strategy, while also supporting our strategic plan goal to elevate the visibility of the arts at MSU – enriching the student experience and deepening learning with opportunities for creative expression and engagement with cultural experiences.”

For the College of Music, MSUFCU has funded numerous projects over several years including the MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence Program (JAR) and the Entrepreneurial Musical Artist in Residence Program (EMAR). 

Every academic year, JAR brings multiple nationally and internationally known jazz artists visit campus for a week-long residency to teach and perform with Music students and faculty. During their stay, jazz artists engage the campus community with public concerts and visits to local school systems, including regional tours across the state with MSU Jazz students. 

Created in 2019, EMAR focuses on entrepreneurship in the musical arts and brings MSU Music students opportunities to learn from and network with successful and progressive artists during multiple-day residencies. Through immersive experiences, students can learn from artists and thought leaders who are forging innovative careers.

“As MSUFCU celebrates 85 years of partnership with MSU, we’re proud of all we have accomplished together on behalf of campus and community,” said MSUFCU President and CEO April Clobes. “We’re pleased to continue our support through these creative and innovative projects that will enhance the lives of our members.”