Building Community, Note by Note
In 2009, UpBeat had no full-time staff and just 12 students who participated in weekly lessons. Over 15 years, the organization has become a keystone in a neighborhood-wide ecosystem of care, serving hundreds of students and their families.
Musical Roots
The daughter of a working musician and a New York City public school music teacher, Liza Austria pursued a career as a professional singer and dancer prior to founding UpBeat with her husband, Richard Miller, in 2009.
Working in Harmony
Richard Miller’s musical career began in his home state of Texas, where he first picked up a saxophone. His pursuit of jazz performance brought him to NYC, where he met Liza and witnessed the urgent need for high-quality, free music education for underserved children in the city.
A New Movement
Informed by the Venezuelan El Sistema framework of youth music instruction, Liza and Rich created UpBeat NYC to carry on a legacy of social action through music for New York City’s children. UpBeat started out in a small donated storefront church space in Mott Haven.
Coming Full Circle
Years later, that connection to El Sistema came full circle. Carlos Sánchez began his own musical journey there as a child, eventually performing with the Simón Bolívar Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel on stages around the world. Now UpBeat’s Program Director and in-house luthier, Carlos draws on that experience to create the same joyful, supportive home in music for South Bronx youth that helped shape his own life.
Today
Today, UpBeat NYC serves over 230 youth across 37 weeks of free musical instruction every year. Operating from our community music center, active seven days a week, we provide music instruction and ensemble performance through a fully gate-free model: no auditions, no fees, and free instruments.
Our students, ages 5-21, build musical and social skills through early childhood music classes, group learning, private lessons, instrumental sectionals, ensemble playing, choirs, peer mentoring, and public performance.
Through our programming, we aim to build understanding of diverse musical styles including Classical, Jazz, and Afro-Latin music, centering Hispanic and Black musical traditions alongside Western classical repertoire, building musicianship while affirming identity.
Always Free to Families
From Classical to Afro-Latin Jazz
Ages 5 and Up
Year Round
Our Community in the South Bronx
Despite decades of marginalization, disinvestment, and exclusion from New York City’s vast cultural resources, the South Bronx is the birthplace of music that has changed the world. We aim to help our students connect with the unique legacy of the neighborhood they call home. We are proud to celebrate and carry on the South Bronx’s rich musical heritage – and to help shape its future.
Bronx Music Milestones
Doo-Wop and R&B
The Chords, formed at Morris High School, recorded the 1954 hit “Sh-Boom”
Jazz
Home to Thelonious Monk, Elmo Hope and Maxine Sullivan; Club 845 and Hunts Point Palace hosted Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie
Teatro Puerto Rico
The Mott Haven landmark presented Tito Puente, Machito, Arsenio Rodríguez, Beny Moré and José Feliciano
Popular Music & Entertainment
Bronx-raised Rita Moreno became an icon of American music, theater and film. Later Bronx stars include Luther Vandross and Cardi B.
Mambo & Salsa
Arsenio Rodríguez, Willie Colón and Ray Barretto helped shape mambo and New York salsa
Hip-Hop
South Bronx pioneer Grandmaster Flash revolutionized DJing and helped shape hip-hop
Boogaloo
Pete Rodríguez and Joe Cuba fused Afro-Caribbean rhythms with R&B and soul
Bachata
Bronx-born Aventura transformed bachata and brought it to audiences worldwide
