The Virtu Foundation is a
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
organization that supports higher level music education with a particular focus on string instruments. It organizes the donation or loan of high quality cellos, violas, and violins to the Foundation, so that they may be loaned to young musicians. The foundation's goal is to help young musicians develop advanced musical skills with experience of the use of high-quality instruments they could not otherwise afford.
Instruments are loaned to young musicians on Scholarships. When the terms of Scholarship loans expire, the instruments are placed with new musicians. Over 70 musicians have received such Scholarship loans since the foundation was established.
Loans are made on a competitive basis to students from any country who reside in the United States or Canada. Recipients of these Scholarships currently include students at
East Carolina University
East Carolina University (ECU) is a public university, public research university in Greenville, North Carolina. It is the fourth largest university in North Carolina.
Founded on March 8, 1907, as a Normal school, teacher training school, East ...
,
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman.
It offers Bachelor of Music (B.M ...
,
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...
,
New England Conservatory
The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) is a private music school in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. The conservatory is located on Hu ...
, and
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private university, private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the List of Colonial Colleges, fourth-oldest ins ...
.
The Virtu Foundation has also supported organizations committed to sustaining public performances of classical music, as well as classical music education programs. It is a tax-exempt non-profit organization.
Scholarship program
The instruments are placed as two-year scholarships through periodic competitions. The selection process includes blind evaluations of musical competence, and consideration is given to financial resources, instrument need, and an estimate of the benefit which extended use of a better instrument would bring to a musician's career. The foundation bears the expense of acquiring or borrowing the instruments, and recipients make semi-annual contributions to a fund that insures that the instruments are well maintained.
Mentor program
The foundation provides occasional support to community-based string teaching programs for children.
See also
*
List of charitable foundations
This is a list of notable charitable foundations.
A
* AARP Foundation
* Acorns Children's Hospice
*Action Against Hunger
*ActionAid
* Acumen
*Adelson Foundation
*Adventist Development and Relief Agency
*Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Canada
...
References
External links
* {{Official website
1998 establishments in the United States
Music education organizations
Educational foundations in the United States
Music organizations based in the United States