Introducing
The Dorothy Maynor Society
Named for the opera singer who founded Harlem School of the Arts in 1964, The Dorothy Maynor Society honors those whose generosity carries her founding vision forward: a place where every young artist in Harlem, regardless of means, has room to become who they’re meant to be.
The Founder
Dorothy Maynor, 1910–1996
A celebrated opera singer denied a stage at the Metropolitan Opera because of her race, Dorothy Maynor turned that door closed against her into one she opened for generations of young artists instead. In 1964, she founded Harlem School of the Arts on the belief that talent deserves a place to grow — regardless of what the world outside is willing to offer.
“We want them to make beauty in this community.”
— Dorothy Maynor, HSA Founder
Documented Legacy
Six Decades of Recognition
What began in the basement of St. James Presbyterian Church in 1964 has grown into a 37,000-square-foot campus — and a legacy documented by architects, journalists, and global arts institutions alike.
“We are trying to create horizons.”
— Dorothy Maynor, “Arts in the Ghetto,” Music Educators Journal, March 1968
In 2023, HSA was named a recipient of the Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists — a prize from the Japan Art Association announced by former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, placing HSA alongside a small group of global arts institutions recognized for transformative impact.
Press Release, 2023
Praemium Imperiale Grant for Young Artists
Announced by Hillary Rodham Clinton at a Washington, D.C. ceremony →
Columbia Neighbors, 2023
A Conversation with President James C. Horton
On HSA’s legacy and its 60th anniversary →
Vogue & HSA, 2024
The 60th Anniversary “Bridgerton” Gala
As featured in Vogue — see the full recap →
Ebony
Dorothy Maynor & The Harlem School of the Arts
Read the feature →
As Featured in Essence
Dorothy Maynor and Harlem School of the Arts have been chronicled in Essence Magazine’s coverage of Black cultural institutions.
Historic Documents
In Her Own Words — and In the Record
“Arts in the Ghetto” (1968)
Dorothy Maynor’s own essay for Music Educators Journal — PDF link needed once uploaded to your media library.
Architectural Record (May 1979)
A feature on the Herb Alpert Center’s design — PDF link needed once uploaded to your media library.
Watch
HSA in Motion
What Your Gift Supports
Every Discipline, One Campus
Music
Practice instruments · sheet music library · recording equipment
Dance
Performance costumes · sprung flooring · barres & studio mirrors
Theatre
Stage lighting · set & costume materials · script licensing
Media & Design
Design software licenses · cameras · computer workstations
Murals
Paint & supplies · scaffolding · community mural materials
Animation
Animation software licenses · drawing tablets · render-capable workstations
Cinematography
Cameras · lighting kits · editing software
Comic Book Art
Drawing tablets · illustration software · portfolio printing
Illustrative needs — confirm current department wish-lists before publishing.
Membership
Giving Levels
Suggested tiers below — adjust names, thresholds, and benefits to match HSA’s actual gift-society structure.
Overture Circle
$2,500–$4,999
Funds a semester of tuition assistance for a student, or a season of sheet music and scripts.
Maestro Circle
$5,000–$9,999
Outfits a dance class with performance costumes, or equips a media lab with new cameras.
Founder’s Circle
$10,000–$24,999
Supports a year of scholarships for several students, or a department’s full equipment needs.
Dorothy Maynor Society
$25,000–$99,999
Sustains a faculty position for a year, or underwrites a full department’s annual programming.
The Legacy Circle
$100,000+
Transformative, long-term support — facilities, endowment, or a signature initiative in your name.
A Legacy of Leadership
Built on major gifts before it.
HSA’s home — The Herb Alpert Center, at 645 St. Nicholas Avenue — carries the name of one of the school’s most significant supporters. That partnership continues today: Rona Sebastian, President of the Herb Alpert Foundation, serves on HSA’s Board of Directors.
Society members join a tradition of philanthropy that doesn’t just fund programs — it builds the ground young artists stand on.
As a Member
What Society Membership Includes
Front-Row Access
Invitations to student showcases, dress rehearsals, and department open houses throughout the year.
Recognition
Your name listed among Society members in HSA’s Annual Report and on-campus donor recognition.
Gala Priority
Priority seating and early invitations to HSA’s Annual Benefit Gala.
Direct Connection
Periodic updates from HSA leadership on the students and programs your gift makes possible.
Campus Visits
Personal tours of The Herb Alpert Center and opportunities to meet HSA faculty and students.
A Seat at the Table
Invitations to leadership briefings on HSA’s strategic priorities and long-term vision.
Stay Close to HSA
Join Our Donor Mailing List
Hear first about student milestones, upcoming performances, and ways to stay involved with HSA.
Join Us
Your gift can be the door someone else needed.
Become a member of The Dorothy Maynor Society and help ensure the next generation of Harlem’s artists has a place to become who they’re meant to be.
Contact Jonathan Kitt, Chief Development Officer — jkitt@hsanyc.org · (212) 926-4100