Enter an orchestra of New Yorkers rising from homelessness, forging their futures one bold note at a time.
In defiance of adversity, these musicians play on—
all of us bearing witness to an escape facilitated by the very emblem of wealth itself.
We are that orchestra. Come and bear witness.
The Vision
Generational Transformation
We believe generations of New Yorkers will have transitioned out of homelessness and built successful careers from That One Ensemble in the decades to come.
High Standards, No Compromises
We will become a professional, performance-ready orchestra, trained by the best musicians in the world, led by the best conductors in the world, and performing music written by the best composers in the world.
Next-Generation Philanthropy
We will foster a strong community of forward-thinking, next-generation philanthropists that encompass top patrons of both the arts and impact in NYC.
Belonging
Mentorship
Skillset
Wage
Community
Responsibility
Belonging Mentorship Skillset Wage Community Responsibility
— for people who are too often mistaken for a problem to solve.
-
Nick Marsella
Founder & Executive Director
M.M. Composition, The Juilliard School
-
Kristel Kempin
Board of Directors
Director of Development, Tate Americas Foundation
-
Gary Padmore
Board of Directors
VP of Education, New York Philharmonic -
Nigel Masenda
Board of Directors, Secretary
Corporate Attorney, TE Connectivity
-
Robert Ong
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Director of Research, PEAK6 Capital Management LLC -
Josiah Haken
Board Advisor
CEO, City Relief -
Eru Matsumoto
Board of Directors
GRAMMY Award®-winning cellist, Forbes 30 Under 30
-
José García León
Board of Directors
Dean, Yale School of Music
-
Ritz Mpindi
Board of Directors
Founder & Creative Strategist, Burning Hearts
-
Drew D'Agostino
Board of Directors
Founder & CEO, Crystal
The Process
Collaborate + Scout
We partner with NYC-based nonprofit organizations already directly serving people experiencing homelessness to identify candidates who would be set up for success in our program.
Train + Equip
We leverage our extensive roster of the best orchestral musicians in NYC to pair each new member with a mentor who trains them and performs alongside them when they are ready.
Hire + Perform
After training, we hire each individual to perform in the orchestra during our concert seasons. They are free to join other ensembles or pursue other work with their new skillset, but they will always have a place with us.