VanderCook College of Music is thrilled to announce that our One City outreach program has been awarded a $7,000 grant from the Mockingbird Foundation.
The Mockingbird Foundation, an all-volunteer nonprofit founded and run entirely by Phish fans, awarded 20 new grants totaling $141,263 in support of music education for children. One City is one of two programs in Illinois chosen out of 1,156 applicants.
One City offers free music lessons, rehearsals and instruments to 5th through 8th graders from local schools and neighborhoods. One City pays tribute to Chicago’s jazz roots by offering instruments from the jazz band family including saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion (drums), bass and piano.
To see the complete list of the Mockingbird Foundation’s 2020 grants, visit https://mbird.org/2020/02/grants-top-1pt6/
To learn more about Mockingbird and its mission, visit www.mbird.org.

VanderCook and One City thank Reverb.com for their generous Reverb Gives donation of $5,000 worth of keyboards, electric basses and percussion kits for our 5th grade class!


When children have access to quality music instruction, the positive impact can be life-changing. VanderCook’s One City program helps to make sure all children have access to high-quality musical instruments and outstanding jazz education.
One City runs for 10-15 weeks each fall and spring. Any student who completes the program through 8th grade will keep and own the instrument to play in high school and beyond.
Who Can Attend?
5th through 8th graders during the 2019-20 school year who have above-average grades with good school attendance and punctuality.
When?
Saturday mornings, 10:00 a.m. -12:15 p.m. See schedule below.
Where?
VanderCook College of Music, 3140 S. Federal St., Chicago
Who are the Teachers?
VanderCook professors and college music education majors.
For questions or additional information,
please contact Dr. Leah Schuman
at 312.788.1171 or lschuman@vandercook.edu
2020-21 schedule
coming soon!
VanderCook College of Music is thrilled to announce that our
One City outreach program recently received a CityArts grant from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.


The mission of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) is to enrich Chicago’s artistic vitality and cultural vibrancy. To support this overarching mission, the Cultural Grants Program’s goal is simple: to serve as a catalyst to foster a robust, healthy arts community where artists, nonprofit arts and culture organizations and creative industries thrive. In 2020, DCASE will provide more than $2.7 million annually in direct funding for Chicago’s arts community through its Cultural Grants Program. Designed to reach artists, creatives, and nonprofit arts and culture organizations across Chicago, DCASE Cultural Grants provide operating funds and project support for nonprofits and project specific funding for individual artists.