Make Music NOLA

Make Music NOLA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on music education for

young people in New Orleans. Our mission is to give the youth of New Orleans the keys to claim

their musical heritage and the tools to build their creative legacy.

Our organization began in 2010 as the Youth Orchestra of the Lower 9th Ward, operating with a

handful of youth and a few string instruments in a community center created from a Walgreens

closed after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Make Music NOLA has grown to serve youth from

kindergarten through 12th grade, and annually serves hundreds of students in a variety of string

instruction including music theory classes, weekly orchestra and chamber music rehearsals,

fiddle class and in school-based, afterschool and Saturday classes. Our organization is now

located at the Bell Art Space in the Treme neighborhood.

With a talented and dedicated staff, Make Music NOLA focuses on creative youth development

through music instruction and helps students explore and embrace the rich, diverse heritage of

musical genres, including BIPOC performers and composers. Our students have a number of

opportunities to perform throughout the year, sharing their learning and love of music with the

wider New Orleans community. MMN also has strong relationships with many other social

justice, youth development-focused music programs throughout the United States, providing

youth the opportunity to work closely, both virtually and in-person with a diverse group of peers.