Mayor Bloomberg Signs Bill Naming Street after HSA Founder, Dorothy Maynor

On Monday, July 11^th Mayor Bloomberg signed the bill making St. Nicholas Avenue between 141^st and 145^th Streets officially Dorothy Maynor Place. The New York City Council, sponsored by Councilman Robert Jackson, approved the renaming of the street after the Harlem School of the Arts’ founder and soprano, Dorothy Maynor.

The signing took place in City Hall’s historic Blue Room. HSA attendees included President & CEO, Yvette L. Campbell, Board Chairman Charles J. Hamilton Jr., Board members Devin Johnson and Fred Darden, Director of Music, Judith Insell, Director of Development, Solonje Burnett-Loucas, long-time music faculty member James Bartow, and the Children’s Choirmaster Patricia Eaton. Also in attendance was Councilman Jackson and internationally-known opera singer and HSA alum, Kevin Maynor. Councilman Jackson also acknowledged Commissioner Kate Levin of the Department of Cultural Affairs, who was unable to attend but was also instrumental in the naming.

Mr. Hamilton introduced Ms. Campbell to the standing room only audience noting her ability to continue Ms. Maynor’s legacy. Ms. Campbell thanked all those who supported the renaming of the street that over 47 years ago Ms. Maynor deemed the cornerstone of world-class arts education in Harlem. “Today, the Harlem School of the Arts has transformed the lives of over 50,000 young people and counting by providing arts education in all four disciplines – music, dance, theater and visual arts - under one roof to nearly 2000 families annually,” she says. “We are still guided by Ms. Maynor’s original belief that arts education stimulates the child both emotionally and intellectually, strengthens the family through its commitments to a child’s development, and gives pride of ownership to a community. In other words, arts education is an indispensable component in the life of every child.” She continued “without Dorothy Maynor’s vision, St. Nicholas Avenue might be a very different place today. We are forever grateful to her.”

Dorothy Maynor was an African-American soprano, music educator and one of the most highly praised singers of the 1940’s and 1950’s. She performed with most prestigious American orchestras and was one of the most sought-after performers. Ms. Maynor founded the Harlem School of the Arts in the basement of St. James Presbyterian Church on St. Nicholas and 141st Street in 1964. Under her leadership, the institution grew from 12 students to 1,000 by the time of her retirement in 1979. Ms. Maynor’s belief in empowering disadvantaged children through the arts continues to mold future generations of great artists and citizens of our society.