Cape Cod Life Philanthropy Edition:
Cape Cod Conservatory of Arts & Music

AS A GUITAR AND MANDOLIN PLAYER, A TENOR IN THE CHURCH CHOIR, AND THE PARENT OF A 15-YEAR-OLD ASPIRING VOCALIST,  KEVIN HOWARD'S LIFE IS FILLED WITH MUSIC. Recently, his dedication to music has put him in a hands-on leadership role at a premier arts education institution: the Cape Cod Conservatory of Music & Arts. "I've always felt music is an important part of people's learning and development," Howard says.

Experiencing the conservatory's day-to-day operations also gives him deeper insight into the organization. says, "It's one thing to talk about the pre-kindergarten program and another to be in a room with 20 children running around. Just as a sensory experience, it gives you deeper appreciation for what's really happening."

The Cape Cod Conservatory of Music & Arts has been educating students in all branches of music, dance, and visual art since it was founded in 1956. Unlike most nonprofit institutions, it has two campuses - one in West Barnstable and another in Falmouth on property donated by J.K. Lilly III. Howard says the founders wanted to make the conservatory as accessible to families as possible, regardless of age (a 64-year-old recently embarked on a lifelong dream of playing guitar) or income, which has shaped its financial structure: 70 percent of its budget comes from grants and contributions while 30 percent is from tuition.

Howard was appointed acting executive director while serving as president of the board of governors, when the previous executive director left this year. Howard, who is also president of Wise Living independent living communities and a former hotel executive, says the board appointed him acting executive director so it could plan strategically while it looks for a permanent leader. "I thought it was a good idea to have a connecting point between the existing executive director and who will be next," he says.   

And as school districts cut budgets, art is often one of the first things to go, which makes the conservatory's mission that much more important. "Art is seen as a luxury, even if we don't see it that way. It's a basic part of the educational process," Howard says. Fundraising may be the conservatory's biggest challenge, but Howard sees this as an opportunity to be creative and compelling and to strengthen ties with other organizations.

The conservatory has built community connections on many levels. The Friday evening Conservatory Performance Series brings outstanding faculty, students, and invited artists like new-age pianists Gary Girouard and Louis Landon - featured in a concert last July - to public performances at the Falmouth campus. Faculty and students also participate in outreach programs, such as performing in assisted living facilities, funded by the Cape Cod Melody Tent, which Howard says benefits the students as much as the audience. "It gives them more opportunities for performance, which is different from strictly practicing or taking lessons," he says.

With its accomplished faculty, many of whom perform with the Cape Cod Symphony or in Boston, Howard envisions the Cape Cod Conservatory of Music & Arts becoming a feeder for future members of professional symphonies and ballet companies. Howard says, "I'd like to see a thriving arts community where there's a real connection between organizations."