Who are we?
Music Access Miami is a music and arts education coalition building initiative working to identify and mobilize arts and music organizations across whole communities. This initiative was founded by Daniel Lewis and is led by The Miami Foundation and Young Musicians Unite in an effort to bring a thriving arts education ecosystem to every child in Miami-Dade.
Our History
In 2017, a big, bold idea was born. What if ALL youth in Miami-Dade county had access to high-quality music education? What could be possible for our community? What type of opportunities might that unlock for young people? These were the questions that catalyzed Music Access Miami.
In 2020, Music Access Miami found its permanent home as an ongoing initiative within the The Miami Foundation’s collective impact work. Fast-forward to present day and we are, together, making great strides towards this big, bold idea by investing in a common vision of thriving youth through music and arts education. We understand, though, that to reach every child in our community we will need to mobilize a diverse group of leaders, organizations, community members, funders, young people, thinkers, doers, and dreamers from across our community and across sectors.
Our work thus far would not be possible without this growing coalition, all marching towards music and arts education equity for all.
The Miami Foundation
The Miami Foundation is the foundation for people who are passionate about Miami. We have partnered with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 1,000 personalized, philanthropic Funds, including the Music Access Fund.
Today, we manage close to $350 million to address the community’s needs now for a more resilient tomorrow. As part of our hard work to understand Greater Miami and connect that passion with efforts to enhance quality of life for everyone, we steward a diverse portfolio of charitable investments.
One of our big efforts is the Music Access Fund, with which we galvanize non-profit leaders, philanthropists, schools, and communities, for us all guarantee that all youth in Miami-Dade has access to the benefits of music education.
Young Musicians Unite
Young Musicians Unite believes that every child deserves access to music education regardless of their socio-economic background. We collaborate with schools to provide free music education, which has been proven to inspire personal development, foster a sense of community and prepare our future leaders.
Miami Gardens Music Alliance
Participating Schools:
Barbara Hawkins Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, Carol City Elementary, Lake Stevens Elementary, Miami Gardens Elementary, Dr. Frederica S. Wilson/Skyway Elementary School, Myrtle Grove K-8 Center, North County K-8 Center, North Glade Elementary, Carol City Middle School, Lake Stevens Middle School, Norland Middle School, Miami Carol City Senior High
Music Education Organizations:
Achieve Miami, Guitars Over Guns, Interlochen, Miami Music Project, Save the Music, Young Musicians Unite, Teeny Violini, Children’s Voice Chorus
Grant Partners
The Miami Foundation offers mini-grants to music organizations to enrich the community through arts programming. Every year organizations will have an opportunity to apply. Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter so you don’t miss out on grant opportunities and deadlines. Click here to see a list of Grant Partner Organizations.
Dan Lewis
Music Access Miami would not be possible if not for the vision, tenacity, and support of philanthropist and music-enthusiast Daniel Lewis.
In 2017, Dan approached Radical Partners with the bold dream of sharing the power of music with every young person in Miami-Dade. Three years later, this initiative has grown significantly and is now co-lead by him and The Miami Foundation.
Dan has devoted the last 19 years to philanthropic activities, with his greatest focus being on social and musical arts investing. He initiated the Cleveland Orchestra’s multi-week residency in Miami as founding chairman of Miami Music Association. He was the board chair of the Festival of North American Orchestras. He also served on the executive committee of The Cleveland Orchestra and the board of the League of American Orchestras.
Dan recently founded and chairs M:X (Miami Experimental) and The Lewis Prize for Music, his most recent start-up, is another ambitious effort to drive social change through musical arts. Dan is also chairman of The Management Center and is on the board of Third Way.
Dan graduated from Miami University with an accounting degree, taught three years at Cleveland's Glenville High School, was a real estate developer in Phoenix, and retired from Progressive Corporation having had general management, control, claims, product management, and board membership responsibilities.
