Our Story

In Haiti - a country with a rich legacy of arts and culture - potential is everywhere, but the barriers to success are steep. BLUME Haiti embraces this challenge, empowering thousands of Haitian students, educators, performers, and creators to unify and strengthen their communities through the transformative impact of music education.

Founded in 2012 by Janet Anthony alongside board members Carolyn Armstrong Desrosiers, Tom Clowes, Scott Harrison, Jordan King, Ricardo Lesperance and Lindsay Schwartz -  but anchored in the values of a dedicated group of volunteers whose lineage dates to 1971 - Building Leaders Using Music Education in Haiti fosters relationships among musicians in Haiti and globally, places people at the center of its mission, engages with musical and educational networks within the country and across the diaspora, and nurtures a thriving, interconnected community poised for long-term growth and success. Serving both urban and rural populations, and working in collaboration with our Haitian partners, our initiatives and investments span Workforce Development and Participation (e.g. salary support for teachers), Access to Music Education (e.g. scholarships for music school and summer camps), Community Investment and Capacity Building (e.g. support and skills development for teachers and administrators along with funding and resources for music programs), Artistic Vibrancy (e.g. concert presentations and national festivals), and Health and Wellness Support (e.g. promoting safe and sanitary living and learning environments).

Janet, the former George and Marjorie Olsen Chandler professor of music at Lawrence University, first traveled to Haiti in 1996. Her curiosity was piqued by an ad in Strings Magazine seeking volunteers for the summer camp in Leogane run by the École de Musique Sainte Trinité (EMST) based in Port-au-Prince. She was immediately struck by the passion, excitement, dedication, and drive of the students, teachers, and staff she encountered. In a country most of us know only through headlines about one man-made or natural) disaster after another, she was captivated by the enormous desire to learn and the real hunger for information that most of the students brought to the table. What teacher wouldn't be delighted!

Janet returned year after year, volunteering not only in Leogane, but traveling throughout the country to learn about other music programs and work with countless young Haitian musicians.  Already in 1997, she began to invite Lawrence students to join her on her trips to Haiti, which is how fellow founding board members Carolyn, Tom, and Lindsay (all cellists studying with Janet at Lawrence University) and Jordan (a violinist)  came to experience Haiti for the first time. Haitian-born founding board member Ricardo was a student at EMST and member of the renowned Petit Chanteurs boys’ choir who later graduated from Lawrence University with degrees in music and government. Scott Harrison, an arts administrator who was based in Indianapolis at the time, met Janet and the others for the first time when volunteering at the music camp in Leogane in 2008.

In an informal capacity, Janet and others started bringing down instruments, music, and supplies to augment the resources available at various programs. However, it wasn’t until the devastating earthquake in January of 2010 that they seriously started discussing the creation of a non-profit organization to enable donors in the United States and abroad to rebuild instrument stocks and support music programs throughout Haiti on an ongoing basis. With the support of Jimmy Buffet’s Singing for Change Foundation, BLUME Haiti was born in 2012. From day one, we have endeavored to center the needs of our Haitian partners, include Haitian voices on our board, and create meaningful employment for Haitian musicians and educators. Today, approximately one third of our Board is Haitian born, we employ a four-person program staff in Haiti, and we provide financial support for dozens of music teacher positions throughout the country.

Haiti has been a source of extraordinary music - both classical and popular - for centuries. Through our programs, we connect to this legacy, showcasing the immense talent and potential of Haiti's youth. Music becomes a powerful conduit for resilience, reminding us all that everyone is capable of creating beauty, even in the most challenging circumstances. Those who support BLUME Haiti are contributing to a movement that uses music education as a catalyst for social change. What we do goes well beyond the basics of notes and rhythms as we work to help build a generation of confident, skilled, and engaged citizens who can lead Haiti towards a brighter future. BLUME Haiti is helping generations of Haitians find their voice.

During their 2024 Board Retreat, BLUME Haiti Board Members attend a performance of Haitian piano works by Marianne Parker, presented by Crossing Borders Music at the Chicago Public Library. From L to R: Crossing Borders Music Board President Casandra Holliday, Tom Clowes (also a founder of Crossing Borders Music), Scott Harrison, Ricardo Lesperance, Rachael Cohen, Janet Anthony, pianist Marianne Parker, and Phil Bravo.