"The allocated funds will provide the opportunity to participate in the Central City Opera Residency program “Music Words and Opera”. During this residency, professional artists will mentor approximately 100 Upper elementary students through the creation and production of musical storytelling. Participants will develop scripts, compose songs, and learn various on-stage and off-stage technical skills, culminating in a community performance. To further enhance their understanding, students will participate in field trips to professional theater and musical performances that align with the themes of their original opera projects."

The grant money will be used to support and enhance our school programs by purchasing an outdoor Bluetooth speaker to foster greater engagement and excitement at student and family events. Funds will also be allocated to replace and repair instruments to ensure students have access to quality equipment for music education. Additionally, the grant will support after-school music and drama clubs, including band/orchestra, a rock/modern band club, and a school musical, thereby providing enriching extracurricular opportunities. Part of the funding will go toward purchasing music and renting or purchasing costumes for student performances. Finally, the grant will help fund music field trips and bring in performances exposing students to diverse and meaningful musical experiences.

CYSO will use funds to support our musical outreach program throughout the greater Denver area. We supply free instruments, repairs, materials, books, and fantastic instruction to students who otherwise would have no music in their life.

Since I began building this program in 2022 the Sunnyside Foundation has been a vital contributor to us creating one of the most dynamic music programs in DPS! If selected,this year I will be using the funds to help get more tech and recording options for my students to document the amazing learning that is happening in music class!

Grant funds will support student participation in a variety of music-centered experiences, including music festivals, live concerts, symphony performances, and theatrical productions such as Hamilton. Because fostering a genuine appreciation for music is a central goal, and youth voice is a key component of programming, participants will play an active role in selecting the events they attend. Funding will help cover expenses such as admission or ticket costs, associated staff time, and appropriate attire when needed. These resources will ensure that low-income children and youth, ages 5–18, have the opportunity to attend at least one high-quality music-based experience during the year. Funds are further maximized through access to discounted tickets for cultural events, allowing SVYC to extend the reach and impact of each dollar invested.

Grant funds would be used to purchase the rights to the show (about $800). Additional costs include purchasing costumes for lead actors, purchasing materials for props, set building materials, paint for the backdrop, and staffing costs for backstage support, costume alterations, and sound engineer support.

Grant funds will directly offset the cost of Centennial students' participation in the All Together Now! Festival. Specifically, Sunnyside's support will cover Centennial students' share of meals, festival t-shirts, artist engagement, space use, workshop materials, and access to the full day of programming. The broader festival budget includes venue rental at the Newman Center, professional performing artist fees, interactive workshop facilitation, and livestreaming so that families who cannot attend in person can watch their children perform. Tickets are free for all attendees, and ETM-Colorado does not generate revenue from the event. Every dollar of Sunnyside's investment goes directly toward ensuring Centennial students can fully participate in this experience.

We would use these funds to provide scholarships to program applicants to participate in various music programs, such as Music Life Denver, Rocky Mountain Aardvarks, and Rhythmetrix.

Part of the grant will go towards our Community Flex Fund. The Community Flex Fund provides financial support to independent artists who need access to professional recording environments but may not have the resources to pay for studio time. By helping cover recording and production costs, the fund allows artists to complete projects, develop their craft, and share their work more widely. This program helps reduce financial barriers for artists while also ensuring that all studio personnel are compensated fairly.

Part of the grant will go towards scholarships at a local studio. A local recording studio has an education program and has offered a discount for our scholarship, which supports aspiring producers and audio engineers pursuing training in music production and recording. These scholarships make the pathways into the music industry more accessible to individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity and cultivate the future of our local music industry.

Our greatest need is to have funding for a relatable curriculum for our band and orchestra students. The majority of our music is 20 years old, and students struggle to connect with those compositions. I want an engaging curriculum that students are excited to perform, and I will use the funds to start updating our music library.