As another school year begins, we can be grateful to nonprofit organizations that regularly supplement school music programs. Supporting these efforts financially is one purpose of last fall’s Ballot Measure 2A, which was passed overwhelmingly by 75% of Boulder voters. This dedicated sales tax was intended to provide an estimated $3.5 million per year for arts and culture, including arts education, beginning in 2025. But now that funding is in jeopardy because the recently released draft 2025 city budget would remove a large portion of those funds to pay for things like the city’s Arts and Culture office staff and operations and the creation of a new Cultural Plan, all expenditures that previously were paid for out of the city’s General Fund.

I‘d like to share examples of how arts organizations delivering music instruction support the development of our young people, with benefits that go far beyond musical skills.

Several months ago, 14-year-old Boulder violinist Jiyu Kim performed at the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra (GBYO) annual fundraising event. She played a duet with Francisco Fullana, the renowned Spanish soloist. Fullana’s residency was a joint endeavor between the Boulder Phil and GBYO, and he performed with both organizations, visited schools and mentored students.

A natural talent and a committed musician, Jiyu Kim has steadily risen through the three GBYO ensembles (starting at age 8) to become concertmaster for all three. She has also benefited from their mentoring program and now gives back to younger players by being a mentor herself. Through GBYO, Jiyu has met and become friends with students from 50 different schools. Her GBYO teachers and mentors taught her how to blend her sound with other musicians while exploring different styles.

The GBYO gives this experience to hundreds of students every year. Since 1984, they have never turned a student away, providing financial assistance to those who need it. Jiyu Kim’s and other students’ lives have been transformed by their participation in a Boulder-based nonprofit arts program.

Another example of a music nonprofit benefiting our youth is the Parlando School of Musical Arts. Parlando’s outreach program provides supplementary support to school music programs with a focus on serving majority BIPOC populations in low-income schools. Last academic year Parlando provided support to over 3,000 classes in 27 schools, resulting in 100,000+ student interactions. Their program provides outreach every week throughout the school year so that students receive consistent support from the same group of teachers.

The results are dramatic! Partner schools reported that students involved in Parlando-supported music classes, when compared to their non-musical peers, had 20% higher attendance, were 24% more likely to graduate, and had GPAs ranging from 3.0-3.5 vs. 2.0-3.0. Kati Sainz, a BVSD band teacher, said, “Parlando teachers have been so incredibly helpful in getting kids who were behind up to speed. It’s been a lifeline for these kids.”

Travis LaBerge, founder and executive director of Parlando emphasizes the benefits of music education, “It’s not even really about the music; it’s the life skills and character development that the music inspires in each student that helps them be the best individual they can be.”

Boulder Valley schools offer excellent music programs, but money has been tight since funding cuts made in the late 1990s have not been restored. Music teachers are spread thin, so it often comes down to Boulder’s nonprofit music organizations to fill the gaps. In addition to GBYO, Parlando, and the Boulder Phil, other musical nonprofits serve kids and youth with programs in our community: Boulder Ballet, Boulder Muse, eTown and many more.

None of these educational programs happen for free. Nonprofits must raise money through grant writing, solicitation of donations, fundraising events and other efforts. Funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and the City of Boulder are critical to the delivery of student services each and every year.

The proposed $589 million city budget allows for approximately $400 million in operational funds for city services. Create Boulder hopes that our City Council will see the value of arts education and restore $1 million for critical arts funding to pay for their own staff and related expenses. Let’s restore our public investment in arts funding, and as a community, let’s double down on our philanthropy for the benefit of musical education.

Jan Burton is a former member of the City Council and the Chair of Create Boulder, an arts advocacy organization.