DEIA at Levine

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

Since our founding in 1976, Levine Music has been committed to cultivating an inclusive and supportive community that educates, inspires, and provides opportunities for all students, families, faculty, and staff.

The art form of music has developed throughout the course of human history, serving a variety of sacred and secular functions in the history of nearly every culture across the globe. In our study of musical traditions past and present, we come across examples of historical figures, events, and ideologies that contradict our values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. In our role as music educators, Levine not only provides context for these examples but also provides opportunities to expand our repertoire to include works, genres, artists, and cultures historically excluded from the canon. Through performance series that present art across genres and a course catalog continually expanding with diverse offerings representing more and more musical traditions, we are journeying together toward a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist musical landscape.

Levine’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Anti-Racism Working Group, comprised of board officers and members, faculty, and staff, meets regularly to ensure we embody these ideals by monitoring our work, creating best practices, and encouraging transparency in the continual integration of DEIA principles throughout our campuses. As a community, we will always strive to create an inclusive and supportive environment, reflecting the richness and diversity of our greater Washington community, so that we can all learn and make music together.

Learn more about our DEIA Working Group and its initiatives.

Employee Experience

Working with multiple consultants, Levine undertook an extensive assessment of its organizational diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism practices. The assessment focused on staff and faculty experience and found many areas of strength, particularly around team members’ sense of authenticity of voice, belonging, and respect, as well as opportunities for growth, including the team’s strong desire to further our connections to our community and support our partnerships and scholarship programs. This assessment, its findings, and our DEIA Working Group continue to guide our approach to serving our communities and supporting our faculty and staff.

Community Presence

Through community partnerships and our campus locations, we work hard to bring music education opportunities to diverse communities across the DC region. Our scholarships, Tuition Assistance program, and a variety of affordable class options enable us to provide accessible opportunities for learning music for hundreds of students across the region.

Since its opening in 2005, Levine has been a resident partner at the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC), a state-of-the-art facility housing a myriad of non-profits that provide community-focused programming within DC’s Ward 8, east of the Anacostia River. Additionally, alongside the Kennedy Center, National Symphony Orchestra, and DC Youth Orchestra Program, Levine is a proud founding member of the Washington Musical Pathways Initiative, a talent development program for young musicians who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or People of Color and want to pursue advanced study in music.

Board Diversity

Levine Music’s Board of Trustees, comprised of business leaders, community advocates, and individuals passionate about music education in our region, is committed to DEIA principles throughout its governance and guidance of our organization. During nominations and elections, the Board works to ensure that its membership is reflective of the communities our organization serves and promotes a diversity of opinions and perspectives to inform decisions. Learn more about Levine’s Board of Trustees.