Transforming lives with music and dance for over 130 years!
Who We Are
As the nation’s longest running community music school, Third Street Music School has been transforming lives through the arts for 129 years. In 1894, Third Street was founded by Emilie Wagner, an arts education pioneer who believed music played a critical role in both the development of a child and the advancement of a community. She made music education the cornerstone of a settlement house that welcomed immigrants to the Lower East Side and provided families housing support, food, and medical care alongside arts enrichment. Today, Third Street is committed to leveraging the arts to empower youth to reach their fullest potential and to unite the diverse communities of NYC. Third Street’s programs reach over 7,000 students from across NYC annually, helping them to grow both as artists and individuals.
