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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Lindsay Werking-Yip, Director of Development at American Composers Orchestra
5:38:49
ยท
139 sec
Lindsay Werking-Yip, Director of Development at American Composers Orchestra (ACO), testifies in support of a $75 million baseline increase for the Department of Cultural Affairs in FY '26. She highlights ACO's impact through music education programs for immigrant students and its contribution to the cultural sector in New York City.
- ACO provides music education to immigrant students, validating their cultural backgrounds and offering therapeutic benefits through music.
- The organization supports hundreds of artists annually through citywide concerts, workshops, and new music readings, providing living wage employment.
- ACO's Earshot Initiatives have expanded nationally, increasing from 6 to 26 partners across 17 US states and Canada since 2020.
Lindsay Werking-Yip
5:38:49
Good afternoon.
5:38:50
My name is Lindsey Working Yip.
5:38:51
I am the director of development for the American Composers Orchestra.
5:38:55
I'm very grateful to testify alongside these many wonderful cultural workers and for your time today.
5:39:02
ACO is a grateful recipient of multi year DCA funding, and I join my colleagues in encouraging the council to support baseline funding for the arts programming in FY '26 with a $75,000,000 baseline increase for the Department of Cultural Affairs.
5:39:18
At ACO, we see the impact of these dollars in so many ways.
5:39:21
Starting in 2023, we partnered with the Manhattan Academy of Arts and Language to provide music education to students who were all new immigrants to New York City.
5:39:31
Over the course of the semester, 25 students each received eighteen hours of instruction in group percussion or voice classes.
5:39:38
In all of ACO classes, students create original works rooted in their personal identity, lived experiences, and community history.
5:39:47
At the end of the semester, one teacher noted this program provided therapy through music.
5:39:52
Students were very happy to find out that the music from their countries of origin was validated through this program.
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On another day, the students were hurrying their academic teacher along through her lesson plan.
5:40:03
Hurry up, one of them said.
5:40:04
We don't want to miss music today.
5:40:07
In our funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs, if it were to decrease or disappear, we risk losing these programs and supporting these children.
5:40:15
We also risk losing a generation of arts workers who rely on sustainable, reliable employment to make their lives here in New York City.
5:40:23
In addition to music education each year, ACO provides citywide concerts, workshops, and new music readings.
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We provide a living wage to hundreds of artists annually.
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Our Earshot Initiatives are the first ongoing systemic program for building relationships between composers and orchestras across The Americas.
5:40:40
And since 2020, we have tripled our national footprint, increasing from six to 26 partners across 17 US states and Canada.
5:40:49
All of these partners are providing jobs to our artists.
5:40:52
I encourage the city council to increase funding for the DCA and initiatives like CASA, SU CASA, and more.
5:41:00
This funding will ensure that New York City will remain a thriving cultural hub with artists making their work and homes here for generations to come.
5:41:08
Thank you.