Miami Music Project Honored with Arts & Education Inspiration Award

The Miami Music Project, a nonprofit dedicated to using music as a tool for social transformation, will be honored with the Arts & Education Inspiration Award at the 2025 Serving the Arts Awards. The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, April 21, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in Coral Gables, Florida.

Co-presented by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Arts & Business Council of Miami, the Serving the Arts Awards recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Miami-Dade County's arts and cultural community. The event will feature several award categories, including the Miami-Dade County Mayor's Legacy in Arts Award, Corporate & Cultural Partners Awards, Michael Spring Leadership Award, Elected Official of the Year Award, and Emerging Arts Legend Award.

Founded in 2008, the Miami Music Project has provided tuition-free, after-school music education to more than 33,000 students across 60 zip codes in Miami-Dade County. Its El Sistema-inspired curriculum offers students 16 hours of instruction weekly, totaling 576 hours annually, fostering musical excellence, personal development, leadership, and resilience. Currently, the organization serves over 860 students across seven program sites, bridging socioeconomic divides and ensuring equitable access to the arts.

In 2024, the Miami Music Project launched the Pathways: College Mentor Program to maintain its 100% high school graduation and higher education pursuit rate. The program pairs students with dedicated mentors who provide guidance through college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and career planning. Among ten recent graduates, four secured scholarships, two were accepted into Columbia University—one with a QuestBridge scholarship—and three received full-ride scholarships to Florida International University through the Gala and Stanley Cohen Scholarship.

The organization's impact extends beyond local communities. In December 2024, President and CEO Anna Klimala accepted the "Best Initiative to Support Diversity and Inclusion in Music" award at the Music Cities Awards in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Selected from 300 candidates across 19 countries, this recognition underscores the organization's global leadership in leveraging music to drive equity and inclusion.

Reflecting on the award, Klimala stated, "This award is a testament to the impact and the power of collective action. It is a recognition of the role of music in building a brighter, more inclusive future for our youth and our community."

The Serving the Arts Awards ceremony will take place at the Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, located at 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Tickets are priced at $25. The event serves as a platform to celebrate and acknowledge the vital role of the arts in Miami-Dade's cultural landscape, which contributes over $2.2 billion annually to the local economy.

The Serving the Arts Awards returned in 2024 after a 16-year hiatus, celebrating over 30 individuals and arts heroes in Miami-Dade’s creative ecosystem. The event honors leaders in various categories, including Lifetime Achievement, Arts and Accessibility, Cultural Catalysts, Legacy in the Arts, Corporate/Business, Arts Professionals, and the prestigious Serving the Arts Award. Over 350 attendees gathered to recognize those shaping the $2.1 billion arts industry.

The recognition of the Miami Music Project at the 2025 Serving the Arts Awards highlights the organization's dedication to empowering underserved youth through music education. As the organization continues to expand its reach and impact, it remains a beacon of transformation, touching the lives of thousands of children and instilling a lifelong passion for music.