Chapter Overview
Musical Empowerment at Duke University serves children in Durham whose families would not otherwise have access to music lessons. Duke students are paired with children who attend local Durham schools for free, weekly 40 minute, one-on-one music lessons and mentorship. Our program provides free instruments, music books, teacher workshops, and trainings to participants, as well as any other resources that may improve the quality and value of lessons. Lessons take place in practice rooms at Blacknall Church near East Campus We accept applications at the start of the Fall and Spring semesters, and lessons begin in August and end in April.
Chapter History
Over the years, we have realized that children from the community are highly interested in learning music but are deterred by lack of funding, materials, and education. Inspired by this desire, an realized the positive effect that a local music program would have, Musical Empowerment was created to provide free music lessons to kids from low-income families. The program gives children in our communities the opportunity to learn more about music and to develop meaningful relationships with college students through music lessons.
The pilot chapter originally called Carolina Music Outreach was launched in 2002 by Christine Moseley (alumnus, UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 2004) as a student organization at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In July 2015, the Musical Empowerment Board of Directors hired former Musical Empowerment Co-President, Meredith Richard (alumnus, UNC-Chapel Hill Class of 2015), as the organization’s first Executive Director to oversee the growth of the organization. Musical Empowerment launched its second chapter at NC State University in November 2015. Now with 8 total chapters, ME launched it’s newest Chapter at Duke University in 2022, founded by Duke students Melissanthi Guthold and Angela Yoon.
