2016-02-09T11:02:16-08:00 2015-06-30 990 2014-07-01 262128710 SOL-LA Music Academy Inc SOL- 3108282912 1812 Stanford St Santa Monica CA 90404 Dean Schramm Chairman 2016-02-09 2014 2016-08-17 19:52:53Z 418533 false false X http://www.sollamusicacademy.org/ X 2007 CA SOL-LA's mission is to provide high quality music education to students from all backgrounds and economic circumstances, in an engaging and encouraging environment fostering achievement and community. Our comprehensive program reflects the belief that vibrant cultural education nurtures all ares of learning, connects diverse societies and enhances enjoyment of life. 10 10 6 200 0 279158 150344 279388 267882 11 7 525 300 559082 418533 0 0 149445 83009 0 38409 358245 326739 507690 409748 51392 8785 147977 145009 43147 31394 104830 113615 X SOL-LA Music Academy provides outstanding performing arts education to young people in an engaging and encouraging environment fostering achievement and community. Enrollment is open to all students from all backgrounds and economic circumstances, taught by highly accomplished and dedicated music educators and performers. Our comprehensive program reflects the belief that vibrant cultural education and ambitious inclusive programs, nurture all areas of learning, connect diverse communities and enhance the quality of life. false false 325523 267882 SOL-LA is a coeducational nonsectarian performing arts community school, serving approximately 550 students between the ages of 4 and 18 as well as adult students. The research based program offers individual and group instruction in instrumental music, ensembles, music composition and theory, choral classes and theater improvisation. In order to develop standards of excellence and build community, students perform regularly throughout the year as part of the SOL-LA curriculum. What sets SOL-LA apart is it's faculty, comprised of accomplished leaders in pedagogy and professional musicians, who are committed to the concept that music education is a fundamental right and an essential foundation for intellectual, spiritual and emotional growth. SOL-LA Programs and WorkshopsThroughout the school year, SOL-LA conducts master classes and workshops for our community and the public. SOL-LA's master classes bring world renown artists to work with SOL-LA students in an intimate setting with an audience of other students, teachers and peers. Workshops offer informational sessions and hands-on activities to support the artistic growth of students and the practical aspects of their development. Workshops offered as part of SOL-LA's Parent and Faculty Education program support offer education to families as a critical element of student success and professional development to our teachers. College and High School MentorshipsSOL-LA's program for UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and university music students provides teaching experience and job opportunities, working with highly accomplished leading educators in the field of music and the performing arts.Advanced level high school students are given the opportunity to work with SOL-LA faculty, while mentoring younger students through after school instrumental practice sessions. The role of the mentor is to serve as a practice supervisor, coach, friend and role model and introduces mentors to the art of teaching. 325523 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 38 0 false 6 true false false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false false false false X 10 10 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true false false true false false CA X Emily Wolff 3108282912 1812 Stanford St Santa Monica CA 90404 David A Feldman Trustee 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Rita Tuzon Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 James Newton Howard Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Frank Heuser Trustee 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Ellen Palevsky Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Dean Schramm Chairman 4.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Elizabeth Weber Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Sofia Wolpert Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Jane Wang Beck Trustee 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Hans Zimmer Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Danielle Tenner Trustee 0.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Chan Ho Yun Artistic Direct 15.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Margaret Lysy Director 10.00 0.00 X 26250 0 0 26250 0 false false false NA 0 150344 150344 Tuition 267882 267882 267882 7 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Miscellaneous 300 300 300 418533 267882 307 0 0 0 0 15415 8324 3700 3391 0 59378 32179 14596 12603 0 0 8216 4450 2009 1757 0 0 39250 25517 9799 3934 0 0 0 0 481 306 175 1726 1726 0 0 43364 34717 4607 4040 0 0 0 0 0 1454 611 843 9579 5651 1629 2299 Contract services 213990 213990 Grant writer 5612 5612 Supplies 2803 102 2701 Janitorial 2434 1809 625 6046 84 4690 1272 409748 325523 45816 38409 74943 41848 11430 26589 50000 15000 7440 53122 0 0 0 0 440 5086 21262 17899 3724 3363 0 0 0 0 1 147977 145009 36557 18871 6590 12523 43147 31394 X 102030 109277 2800 4338 104830 113615 147977 145009 8785 X false false false X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 6026 4199 1827 15236 13700 1536 3363 true true true true true true true false false false false false false false false false false true Schedule E, Line 3 - Racially Nondiscriminatory Policy Publicized Our racially nondiscriminatory policy is published in all of our brochures and is on our web site. Schedule E, Line 4 - Explanation of Records and Materials Not Maintained Schedule E, Line 5 - Explanation of Organization Discrimination by Race Form 990, Part III, Line 4d: Other Program Services Description OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: SOL-LA & UCLASince its inception, SOL-LA has fostered a close connection with the Herb Alpert School of Music at UCLA. UCLA professors have been members of our initial steering committee and our board of directors, involved with our performances, and have consistently provided us with vital guidance. UCLA graduates make up the core of the SOL-LA faculty and bring the standards of excellence from their education to our students. SOL-LA students have now gone on to attend UCLA, bringing full-circle the relationship between the two schools. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 5: Chamber Music ProgramSOL-LA has expanded offerings for chamber music, allowing students to work together in various combinations, explore interesting repertoire and enjoy the social aspects of making music with peers. Chamber music is a niche that SOL-LA can fill as it's less well covered in the Santa Monica schools and in other programs that may offer orchestra opportunities. OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 6: SOL-LA Music Academy provides the following events over the academic year:-10 recitals celebrating solo and ensemble performances.-7 Up-Beat Musicale informal recitals in which students perform works-in-progress and learn performance etiquette in a relaxed and supportive setting.-3-4 master classes with visiting artists engaging students in unique and specialized learning experiences. -Annual Bach Festival, celebrating the music of Bach, and the art, culture and history of the Baroque period.-2-3 Community concerts and festivals showcasing SOL-LA students and faculty.-Special workshops to support student, faculty, and parent education. Form 990, Part VI, Line 11b: Form 990 Review Process A Board member prepares the form 990. The Executive Director and Chairman review the forms prior to filing. Any needed changes are made for filing of the forms. A copy of the complete 990 is then made available to all Board members. Form 990, Part VI, Line 12c: Explanation of Monitoring and Enforcement of Conflicts All board members sign a statement annually disclosing all relationships and interests that may give rise to a conflict. Any noted conflicts are brought to the attention of the Chairman of the Board and Director. All conflicts are then brought before the entire Board for discussion and appropriate corrective action.To date there have been no conflicts. Form 990, Part VI, Line 15a: Compensation Review & Approval Process - CEO, Top Management The Board's Compensation Committee (consisting of at least two Trustees) reviews the Director's salary and weighs (a) the fact that the current Director functions both as the Chief Operating Officer and teacher as well as an integral part of the fund raising team, for a total of approximately 42 hours/week of service against (b) current similar salaries in Southern California, a primary survey of which is published annually by the Center for Nonprofit Management entitled "Compensation and Benefits Survey for Southern & Central California Nonprofit Organizations". The Compensation Committee then makes a recommendation as to the Director's salary. The Board as a whole then votes at its annual Board meeting on the Founder/Executive Director's salary. As Founder, the Director volunteers more than 50% of her time and has accepted lower compensation as the organization continues to establish it's infrastructure. Form 990, Part VI, Line 19: Other Organization Documents Publicly Available The following organizational documents of SOL-LAs are available for inspection or copying at the organization's office during normal business hours at no charge, except for a nominal copying fee:1) Tax Exemption Application2) IRS Determination letter3) Articles of Incorporation4) By-Laws5) Form 990 for the most recent and prior two years. The public inspection copy of the Form 990 will not include Schedule A or the Schedule B.The most updated versions of all of the preceding forms will be available.When responding to a public inspection request for any organizational document or Form 990 by anyone, SOL-LA will fulfill such request in a timely fashion without inquiring as to the reason for the public inspection request. Supplemental information Since the 1980's, public school cutbacks in the arts have left our youth bereft of an essential part of education. Founded in 2007 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) performing arts community school, SOL-LA's programs are designed to fill the gap in our youth's music education by providing comprehensive music and performing arts education from early childhood through high school and, through music, transform the lives of children and the communities around them. SOL-LA Music Academy was built upon five basic commitments: (1) To provide innovative arts education to children from all backgrounds and income levels. (2) To enable students of all socio-economic backgrounds to develop strong artistic and musical educational foundations. (3) To develop the artistic abilities and technical skill of students through instrumental studies and the language of music and the performing arts. (4) To create bridges across diverse cultures and communities thorough music education and to make music relevant and exciting to today's youth. (5) To foster a creative community for students by providing artistic mentors and an environment for students to bond through healthy, joyful and creative pursuits. SOL-LA students study instrumental music, a range of ensemble classes, music theory and choral classes on campus and at satellite locations. The research-based program begins with foundational instruction and proceeds through an interactive program of individual and group instruction in instrumental music, music composition and theory, and performance to provide for optimal growth. The success of our program rests on the diversity of our student/parent community, the strength of our core curriculum, the high quality of our music faculty, and performance-based programs that foster a sense of community through weekly recitals, regular group class performances, monthly performance recitals and participation in master classes by world renowned guest artists. Since SOL-LA's inception, we have been committed to attracting, engaging and serving children for whom quality music education would not otherwise be available.SOL-LAs satellite music program at Saint Anne School, the only nonpublic Title I school in Santa Monica, CA, is flourishing. SOL-LA provides music instruction at no cost to students at Saint Anne School, where more than 40% of families meet the Federal Food Program poverty criteria. In 2010, SOL-LA formed a partnership with Crossroads Schools Elizabeth Mandell Music Institute (EMMI) and the Crossroads Community Outreach Foundation (CCOF) to provide music education at Saint Anne School. The Saint Anne music program began with a fourth grade class of 18 beginning violin students and has grown rapidly to now serve 230 K-8 students. In addition, starting in 2013-14, Saint Anne School students are eligible to attend string ensemble, music theory and chorus classes on the SOL-LA campus with substantial tuition assistance. Our outreach goes beyond partnerships. SOL-LA's teaching practices embody the belief that building a supportive community is integral to making a difference in the lives of children. In addition to offering events to the community throughout the year, SOL-LA has become a collaborative resource in the community to build strong networks and partnerships among education institutions, performing arts organizations, families and community organizations.During the 2014-2015 year, SOL-LA conducted a comprehensive assessment of the music program at the St. Anne School. Program evaluators collected data from students, parents, SOL-LA teachers and St. Anne teachers and administrators about their experience in and with the program. The data was analyzed and used to create a report that evaluates the impact of SOL-LA's program on the educational experience at St. Anne. While the feedback was resoundingly positive from all populations, it nevertheless helps SOL-LA understand the strengths and challenges of the program and how it can be improved moving forward.