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BOSTON CITY SINGERS ANNOUNCES
MELISSA J. GRAHAM AS MANAGING DIRECTOR
BOSTON, MA (February 7, 2011) Boston City Singers, renowned for its nine urban youth chorus programs, announced today that Melissa J. Graham has joined the organization as its Managing Director where she will focus on fundraising, financial and staff management, marketing and public relations. Ms. Graham, a Dorchester transplant of 15 years, comes to Boston City Singers after serving as a Founding Director of The Boston Guys, a Boston-based event planning, fundraising and marketing collaborative that served political, not-for-profit, educational and business clients domestically and abroad. In the past she also hosted Commonwealth Journal, a weekly radio talk show on WUMB, served as Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank FSB, and was a senior advance person for former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton during the Clinton White House years. Previously she had been Vice President and General Manager for Nathan Tyler Productions in Waltham and Director of Local Fundraising for WGBH. Prior to arriving in Boston in 1979 to volunteer for Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, Ms. Graham worked in Washington, DC for Common Cause.
“I am so pleased to have Melissa Graham join the Boston City Singers ‘family’. I know that we will greatly benefit from her terrific administrative and fundraising experience as our music programs for Boston youth continue to grow,” stated Boston City Singers Founder and Artistic Director Jane Money.
Boston City Singers unites children and families from all neighborhoods, ethnic, and socio-economic groups through the power of music. They provide comprehensive music training to children and youth in Boston’s inner city and neighboring communities. The organization was founded in 1995 by Ms. Money. In 2003, after several years of growth under the moniker of Youth pro Musica Dorchester, the organization became an independent non-profit organization. At present, Boston City Singers serves over 350 children aged four to eighteen in several Boston locations, and performs over 25 times annually. Most require substantial scholarship support to participate and therefore only 15% of the organization’s annual budget is met through tuition. 100% of the BCS graduates have continued on to college.
Boston City Singers believe that by exploring the world of singing, our singers develop stronger leadership and teamwork skills, experience the power of self-esteem and self-discipline, and enjoy the beauty of artistic expression. They often participate in “Sing for Good” performances raising funds for other charities. The Boston City Singers Concert Chorus tours each summer. In 2010, they performed in Toronto with the Toronto Children’s Chorus, and later traveled to Southern Maine. In the summer of 2011, the Concert Chorus will tour and perform throughout the Cape Town region of South Africa.