SARASOTA, Fla. (June 2017) — The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (PMP/Suncoast) was awarded a grant in the amount of $20,000 by the Woman’s Exchange at a ceremony held at its store on June, 1, 2017. These funds will help support three programs presented by PMP/Suncoast throughout the 2017-2018 Season: PMP Alumni: In Schools; PMP Alumni: Around Town; and Super Strings.
Each year, PMP/Suncoast brings students and alumni of The Perlman Music Program (PMP) to Sarasota and Manatee counties to train and perform for local audiences and participate in education and community outreach programs. PMP Alumni: In Schools brings alumni into elementary, middle and high schools, as well as special education schools and after-school programs, to educate and interact with students and teachers. PMP Alumni: Around Town offers free or low-cost performances and events in collaboration with local community venues and organizations. The Super Strings program provides young string musicians from across the state of Florida the opportunity to perform with the PMP String Orchestra during the PMP Sarasota Winter Residency, under the baton of Itzhak Perlman.
“We are thrilled that the Woman’s Exchange believes in our mission and continues to support our education and community outreach programs,” said Elizabeth Power, Executive Director of PMP/Suncoast. “In addition to helping bring incredibly talented PMP alumni to our schools and local venues to perform and connect with audiences of all ages, this grant will help support the expansion of the Super Strings program to include applications from young players from across the state who play violin and viola and, new this year, cello and bass as well.”
Since its inception in 1962 and through its consignment operations, the Woman’s Exchange has awarded over $8 million in grants and scholarships to support the arts in Manatee and Sarasota counties. With more than 260 volunteers and 5,000 consignors, all of the scholarship and grant monies are generated through sales at their retail store in Sarasota.
About The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast
The Perlman Music Program/Suncoast (PMP/Suncoast) was established in May 2008 as a non-profit organization to provide a permanent home for The Perlman Music Program (PMP) winter residency. Founded by Toby Perlman, wife of internationally acclaimed concert violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman, and based in New York, PMP augments its summer school and travel residency programs each December with a 17-day PMP Sarasota Winter Residency, providing valuable mentoring and performance opportunities for young string musicians, ages 12-20+, and offering approximately 20 free musical events to community audiences on the campus of University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee. The Perlman Music Program Sarasota Winter Residency runs December 21, 2017 through January 6, 2018. For more information, visit PMPSuncoast.org.