The Choir School of Delaware, Inc.

What The Choir School of Delaware, Inc. does

The Choir School of Delaware, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN: 20-5486245) headquartered at 2013 N Market St. in Wilmington, Delaware, operating an after-school and summer youth music and mentoring program serving children and adolescents ages 7-17 in the greater Wilmington area. The organization originated as the choir program of the Cathedral Church of St. John in 1883 and formalized its after-school program in 1990, when the Cathedral Dean and Director of Music invited neighborhood children to form a choir alongside adult singers, establishing an intergenerational model that remains the program's anchor today. Programming is built around an intergenerational choir and combines music education (voice, piano, and since 2025 instrumental instruction), academic tutoring, homework help, mentoring, and social services, with specialized offerings including the Young Artist Program, Step Up Summer, Gentlemen of Promise, Ladybug Club, and Hummingbird Social Club. Core staff is 9 people supported by 87 annual volunteers delivering 540+ one-on-one mentoring hours.

The organization's technology footprint is modest and curriculum-oriented rather than platform-centric; the most distinctive technical component is an AI Music & Entrepreneurship module within Step Up Summer, led by visiting instructor Kevin McCove, in which students learn generative-AI music creation and prompt engineering. Program delivery relies on direct enrollment (after-school tuition of $400/year, summer programs offered tuition-free with transportation), with instructional content delivered in partnership with the Music School of Delaware, the University of Delaware Project MUSIC, WSFS Bank, and Winterthur Museum. Distribution is local and physical — concerts at venues such as Candlelight Theatre, Grace United Methodist Church, and the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange — augmented by Instagram, an email newsletter, earned regional press, and student-produced podcasts and Tiny Desk-style performance videos.

Revenue is contributed-dominant and diversified across four streams: individual donations and recurring giving (including the Highmark Walk and DoMore24 Delaware fundraising campaigns), after-school tuition, government and foundation grants (Delaware Division of the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, workforce development grants), and modest event ticket revenue (e.g., $10 Black History Month concert tickets). Full Purchase of Care scholarships are available through the State of Delaware, and summer programming is delivered at no cost to families. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors led by President Emery Abdel-Latif and has no parent company or institutional investor.

Name

The Choir School of Delaware, Inc.

Legal name

The Choir School of Delaware, Inc.

Website

https://choirschoolofdelaware.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Choir School of Delaware is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1883 in Wilmington, Delaware, providing after-school and summer music, mentoring, and academic support programs for at-risk youth ages 7-17 through an intergenerational choir model and tuition-free summer intensives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Music Education and Development Programs

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Group Music Classes & Ensembles (Band, Orchestra, Choir) (EDAMANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Music Camps (Band, Choir, Instrument Intensive) (EDAMALAJ), After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

Keywords

• Youth music education
• After-school programs
• Choral training
• Nonprofit arts education
• Youth mentoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a registered 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 20-5486245), the Choir School relies heavily on individual donations, monthly giving programs, and special fundraising campaigns like the annual Highmark Walk and DoMore24 Delaware fundraiser.
2. Tuition and Program Fees: After-school program tuition is $400 per year. Full scholarships are available through Purchase of Care program with the State of Delaware. Summer programming is provided free of charge to students.
3. Government and Foundation Grants: Funding from Delaware Division of the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, and other grants. The organization has received NEA project support grants and workforce development grants.
4. Event Revenue: Concert ticket sales (Black History Month concerts at $10/ticket, holiday cabarets) and venue rental fees for performances at locations like Candlelight Theatre.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Choir School of Delaware operates after-school and summer music education programs for children and adolescents ages 7-18 in the greater Wilmington area. Programs center on an intergenerational choir that anchors vocal and musicianship training, supplemented by piano, voice, and instrumental lessons, alongside homework help, mentoring, meals, and transportation. Year-round and intensive offerings (After-School Program, Young Artist Program, Step Up Summer, Gentlemen of Promise, Ladybug Club, Hummingbird Social Club) are delivered free or at low tuition with full scholarships available.

Product overview

The Choir School of Delaware operates as a unified suite of youth music and mentoring programs centered around its core after-school program. The main offering combines music education (intergenerational choir, piano, voice, and instrumental lessons) with academic support (tutoring, homework help, study hall, mentoring). Key programs include the After-School Program (ages 7-17), Year-Round Young Artist Program (ages 13+), Step Up Summer intensive (ages 10-18), Ladies programs (Ladybug Club and Hummingbird Social Club), and Gentlemen of Promise. Programs are supported by enrichment offerings including podcast creation, a cappella training, and performance opportunities. The organization expanded in 2025 to include instrumental music through partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• After-School Program Main after-school program serving children ages 7-17 in the greater Wilmington, Delaware area. Combines music education and intergenerational choir participation with homework help, mentoring, meals, social services, and one-on-one voice and piano lessons. Meets four days per week (Monday-Thursday) with dismissal between 6:30-8:30pm. Tuition is $400 per year with full scholarships available through the State of Delaware Purchase of Care program.
• Young Artist Program (YAP) Year-round intensive program for emerging artists ages 13+ focused on theatre, music, dance, and stage production. Includes weekly studio classes, individualized voice lessons and acting coaching, career-building workshops in audition preparation, repertoire selection, personal branding, financial literacy, and industry networking, plus guest artist sessions and performance opportunities.
• Step Up Summer Six-week tuition-free intensive summer program (June 22 - July 31, 2026) for Delaware students ages 10-18. Features a STEAM curriculum including AI Music & Entrepreneurship led by Kevin McCove, Financial Literacy with WSFS Bank, podcast creation (The Step Up Chronicles), professional voice lessons, Tiny Desk Concerts, and a culminating free summer concert on July 25, 2026 at the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange.
• Gentlemen of Promise (GOP) Mentorship program for young men developed in 2021 by Dr. Tracy McNair. Empowers young men through mentorship, brotherhood, and accountability, guided by a Brother Code of loyalty, respect, and honesty.
• Ladybug Club Girls-only empowerment program for ages 7-12 providing a safe, joyful space for socialization, body positivity, confidence building, and connection. Includes weekly social-emotional learning classes and culminates in an annual Ladybug Lock-In sleepover. Has a 15-year legacy.
• Hummingbird Social Club Girls empowerment program for ages 13-17+, launched in 2022 by Mahcaiyah Wearing-Gooden. Focuses on leadership, body acceptance, entrepreneurship, and college planning.
• Step Up Summer 2026 Concert Free public summer concert scheduled for July 25, 2026 at 7:00pm at the Tina Betz Urban Artist Exchange. Features music, dancing, food, and performances by Step Up Summer students including commercial and musical theatre repertoire performed with a live professional orchestra.
• Instrumental Music Lessons Instrumental music instruction including violin, cello, strings, and percussion, delivered through a strategic partnership with the Music School of Delaware. Students receive violin and cello lessons from Dr. Ian and Miss Jennifer as part of the curriculum.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% high school graduation rate with minimum 2.0 GPA
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Winterthur Museum, Garden & LibrarymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2020Artists-in-Residence partnership launched in 2020-21 bringing Winterthur artists to work with Choir School students.
• Delaware Division of the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Division promotes Delaware arts events and provides grant support in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The program is supported by grants from this state agency.
• El Sistema USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Choir School operates under the El Sistema philosophy, using music as a vehicle for community, opportunity, and transformation. Affiliated with the national El Sistema organization.
• Music School of DelawarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides strings and percussion instruction. Students receive violin and cello lessons from Dr. Ian and Miss Jennifer. The partnership has been meaningful in expanding instrumental music offerings.
• University of Delaware - Project MUSICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Delaware students from Project MUSIC teach a cappella arrangements to Choir School students. This partnership has brought a cappella music into the curriculum for the past two years.
• WSFS Bank / WSFS Cares FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial literacy programming delivered by WSFS Bank professionals as part of Step Up Summer curriculum, providing real-world financial coaching including credit management and student loan navigation.
• The Melody ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership contributing to expanding music curriculum and enrollment growth.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Harmony Project: Los Angeles-based El Sistema-inspired nonprofit providing free, high-quality music instruction and ensemble performance to students from low-income communities. Directly comparable mission, target demographic, and program model to the Choir School of Delaware.
• Settlement Music School: Philadelphia-area nonprofit community music school (founded 1908) offering tuition-based and subsidized music instruction to children from diverse backgrounds. Comparable Mid-Atlantic nonprofit music school serving similar demographic.
• YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles): LA Philharmonic's El Sistema-inspired program serving LA-area youth through free ensemble music education and wraparound support. Closely comparable to CSD's intergenerational choir model and at-risk youth focus.
• Sing for Hope: Nonprofit organization leveraging the arts to create social impact, including youth music programming and artist residencies in underserved communities. Comparable mission of using music for community transformation.
• OrchKids (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra): Baltimore Symphony's El Sistema-inspired music program providing free after-school music education to Baltimore City's youth. Closely comparable structure, target demographic, and orchestral/ensemble approach.
• Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock): National nonprofit providing free music instruction and instruments to public school students in underserved communities. Comparable mission of expanding music education access to at-risk youth.
• Music School of Delaware: Delaware's largest nonprofit community music school offering private and group instruction across instruments. Directly comparable as a Delaware-based music education nonprofit serving the same geographic market.
• Sistema New York: El Sistema-inspired program in New York City providing intensive after-school music instruction to children from underserved communities. Directly comparable in philosophy, target demographic, and ensemble-based pedagogy.

Emerging players

• Boston Arts Academy: Boston's only public high school for the visual and performing arts, serving grades 9-12 with intensive arts training combined with college-prep academics. Comparable in blending rigorous arts training with academic outcomes for underserved youth.

Others

• Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation: National nonprofit that donates musical instruments and supports music programs in underserved schools. Related ecosystem player supporting the same beneficiary population as the Choir School of Delaware.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-choir-school-of-delaware-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Choir School of Delaware, Inc.