Project STEP
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1982
- HeadquartersBoston, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
Project STEP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Project STEP
- Legal name
- Project STEP Inc
- Website
- https://projectstep.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1982
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Project STEP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Youth Music Education / Classical String Arts Education (Nonprofit)
- NAICS
- Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College) (EDAMANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Music Lessons (Instrumental) (EDAMANAA), Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC), Music Theory, Ear Training & Musicianship (EDAMANAF)
Keywords
Where Project STEP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Boston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Project STEP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Project STEP operates as a nonprofit that relies entirely on charitable donations, grants, and fundraising events. The organization provides comprehensive music education to students at no cost, funded by individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Project STEP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Project STEP (String Training Education Program) delivers comprehensive, tuition-free classical string music instruction to young musicians from historically underrepresented groups, from a Kindergarten introduction (FOCUS) through a multi-year Grades 1–12 track (CORE) that prepares students for college and conservatory. Programming includes private and group lessons, ensembles, masterclasses with world-renowned guest artists, mentorship from professional musicians, and performance opportunities including touring concerts, all delivered from its base at Boston Symphony Hall.
Product overview
Project STEP (String Training Education Program) is a comprehensive music education organization offering two primary programs: FOCUS for Kindergarten/K2 students providing high-quality introduction to music, and CORE for grades 1-12 delivering comprehensive classical string training. The organization also administers four named scholarship programs (Charles H. Bond Scholars, Carlton Doctor Scholar, Arthur & Barbara Kravitz Scholar, and Eleanor L. Campbell Scholar) recognizing students for musical excellence, dedication, and community involvement. Additional offerings include the annual William Moyer Champion of Change Award and seasonal artist collaborator programs. Founded in 1982, Project STEP serves as the nation's first college and career pathway program for students of color in classical music.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- FOCUS Program High-quality introduction to music for Kindergarten/K2 students from historically underrepresented groups in classical music, designed as the entry point into Project STEP's musical pathway. Delivered free of charge to families through Project STEP.
- CORE Program Project STEP's main program for Grades 1–12, providing comprehensive classical string training categorized by grade level with individualized instruction, ensembles, workshops, masterclasses, mentorship, and performance opportunities, delivered tuition-free.
- Charles H. Bond Scholars Scholarship awarded to Junior Division students (Grades 6–8) who demonstrate exemplary musical proficiency, dedication, and community involvement within Project STEP.
- Carlton Doctor Scholar Annual scholarship recognizing one advanced Project STEP student, supported by the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem in honor of Carlton Doctor.
- Arthur & Barbara Kravitz Scholar Annual scholarship established in 2007 honoring Arthur Kravitz's love for music, awarded to one advanced Project STEP student.
- Eleanor L. Campbell Scholar Annual scholarship established by The Honorable Levin H. Campbell, awarded to one advanced Project STEP student who has been a long-term student of the program, in honor of Eleanor L. Campbell.
- William Moyer Champion of Change Award Annual award honoring individuals who champion diversity and make a lasting impact in the arts, named after Project STEP's founder William (Bill) Moyer; presented at the annual STEP into Grace fundraiser.
- 2025/2026 Artist Collaborators Program Seasonal artist-collaborators program (2025/2026 cohort) featuring partnerships, guest-artist residencies, masterclasses, and collaborative performances with Project STEP students.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% college or conservatory acceptance rate for graduates
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Project STEP
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Project STEP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Project STEP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO)coreInitial supporter and co-founder of Project STEP in 1982. BSO Orchestra Personnel Manager William Moyer launched the program after being unable to find musicians from underrepresented communities with sufficient training. BSO continues to provide ongoing support, masterclasses (BSO violist Leonardo Vásquez), and performance opportunities including BSO Concert for the City.
- New England Conservatory (NEC)coreMajor educational partner providing facilities (Jordan Hall, Burnes Hall) for concerts and events, collaboration on performances with NEC students, and connection to conservatory pathway for STEP students. Hosts A Far Cry Side by Side concerts featuring NEC students alongside Project STEP students.
- A Far CrycoreGrammy-nominated self-conducted chamber orchestra that conducts annual Side by Side concerts with Project STEP students at NEC's Jordan Hall. Students participate in rehearsals and performances as co-equals with professional musicians.
- Longwood Symphony OrchestracorePartnership since 2023 fostering mentorship between LSO musicians (who work in medical/scientific fields) and Project STEP students. Culminating annual concerts feature STEP students performing alongside LSO musicians under conductor Jotaro Nakano.
- Opportunity Music ProjectmajorNYC-based partner organization for diversity in classical music. Approximately 20 Project STEP students travel to NYC for joint rehearsals and culminating concert performance with Opportunity Music Project students at Manhattan School of Music.
- Manhattan School of MusicmajorPrestigious conservatory in NYC that hosts Project STEP's touring concert. Students visit the campus as part of their NYC tour to gain exposure to conservatory life and possibilities for their future.
- Rockport MusiccoreAnnual free community concerts at Rockport Music's Shalin Liu Performance Center as part of their Education & Community Program. Concerts honor founder William Moyer and showcase Project STEP students.
- Celebrity Series of BostoncoreAnnual Stringfest program bringing young string players from multiple programs including Project STEP together with professional artists like Edmar Colón for performances and learning opportunities.
- Tony Williams Dance CentermajorCollaborative spring recital project combining Project STEP string students with Tony Williams Dance Center dancers for an interdisciplinary performance at Boston College High School.
- Boston Children's MuseumminorCommunity engagement concerts where Project STEP students perform for museum visitors, providing performance opportunities and community exposure.
- Mass Cultural CouncilcoreState cultural agency providing grants supporting Project STEP's programs and events including spring recitals.
- National Endowment for the ArtscoreFederal arts agency providing grants supporting Project STEP's educational programming and performances.
- D'Addario FoundationcoreMusic education foundation providing generous support for Project STEP events and programs including spring recitals.
- Community Music Center of BostonmajorBoston-based community music center whose Executive Director Lecolion Washington received the 2026 William Moyer Champion of Change Award. Both organizations share missions of equitable music education access.
- Boston Children’s ChorusmajorBoston's premier youth choral organization. Executive Director Andrés Holder was the inaugural 2025 William Moyer Champion of Change Award recipient. Both organizations work toward diversity in performing arts.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Project STEP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Community Music Center of Boston: A Boston-based community music school providing equitable music education access across instruments; its Executive Director received Project STEP's 2026 Moyer Champion of Change Award. Most directly comparable regional peer sharing mission and geographic base.
- Opportunity Music Project: NYC-based nonprofit that provides intensive classical string training to students of color, and is an active Project STEP partner (joint rehearsals and Manhattan School of Music concerts). Serves the same population in a complementary geography with a similar long-term pathways mission.
- Sphinx Organization: The Sphinx Organization is a Detroit-based national nonprofit dedicated to diversity in classical music, running the Sphinx Competition, Sphinx Symphony, and Sphinx Performance Academy. It directly parallels Project STEP's mission of developing Black and Latinx classical string musicians from K-12 through professional careers.
- Boston Children's Chorus: A Boston youth choral organization advancing diversity in performing arts whose Executive Director received Project STEP's inaugural Moyer Champion of Change Award. A directly comparable peer in mission (diversity in performing arts for Boston youth) but operating in choral rather than instrumental music.
Broad incumbents
- El Sistema USA: El Sistema USA is the national umbrella network of intensive orchestral music programs for underserved youth. Project STEP predates and parallels El Sistema's intensive ensemble-based pedagogy, serving a similar population with comparable methodology.
- National Youth Orchestra of the USA (Carnegie Hall): Carnegie Hall's NYO-USA selects top young classical players for free high-level training and tours. Shares the talent-pipeline orientation but operates on a national, summer-intensive basis rather than long-term K-12 pathways.
- New England Conservatory Prep School: The NEC Preparatory School is the formal training arm of New England Conservatory, offering private lessons, ensembles, and pre-college programs. It is a Project STEP partner institution and a broader incumbent serving a similar classical music training market in Boston.
- Berklee City Music Network: Berklee's community music education network providing tuition-free, year-round music instruction to underserved youth in Boston. Operates at greater scale and broader genre focus than STEP but serves an overlapping Boston-based underrepresented youth audience.
Emerging players
- Tune Up Philly: A Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing free, intensive classical music instruction to underrepresented K-12 students, modeled on El Sistema. Comparable mission and pedagogy with a smaller geographic footprint than STEP.
Regional players
- MusiCorps (Center for Musical Arts): A Colorado-based nonprofit serving students with disabilities and underserved youth through individualized music instruction. Shares mission of equitable access but operates in a different region and population than Project STEP.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Project STEP social profiles
Digital presenceProject STEP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Project STEP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Project STEP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Project STEP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Project STEP
What does Project STEP do?
Project STEP (String Training Education Program) delivers comprehensive, tuition-free classical string music instruction to young musicians from historically underrepresented groups, from a Kindergarten introduction (FOCUS) through a multi-year Grades 1–12 track (CORE) that prepares students for college and conservatory. Programming includes private and group lessons, ensembles, masterclasses with world-renowned guest artists, mentorship from professional musicians, and performance opportunities including touring concerts, all delivered from its base at Boston Symphony Hall.
Is Project STEP a public or private company?
Project STEP is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Project STEP founded?
Project STEP was founded in 1982. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Project STEP based?
Project STEP is headquartered in Boston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Project STEP make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Grants.
Who are Project STEP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Community Music Center of Boston, Opportunity Music Project, Sphinx Organization and Boston Children's Chorus. Broad incumbents are El Sistema USA, National Youth Orchestra of the USA (Carnegie Hall), New England Conservatory Prep School and Berklee City Music Network. Tune Up Philly is listed as an emerging player. MusiCorps (Center for Musical Arts) is listed as a regional player.
Does Project STEP have an API?
No public API is recorded for Project STEP.
What industry is Project STEP in?
Project STEP's product category is Youth Music Education / Classical String Arts Education (Nonprofit). Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMANAE, Music Schools & Conservatory Prep (Pre-College), with a secondary code of EDAMANAA, Private Music Lessons (Instrumental). Its NAICS code is 61161 and its SIC code is 8200.