Sing for hope founders at SUNY

The founders of the organization Sing For Hope, which is best known for placing painted pianos in public spaces around New York City before donating them to public schools, will be presenting the Jandon Business of the Arts Lecture on April 12 in the Humanities Theater at the School of the Arts, Purchase College. The event is free and begins at 6 p.m.

Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora, who co-founded and have been co-executive directors of Sing For Hope, are expected to discuss how they built the nonprofit arts organization while pursuing careers as opera singers.

Yunus has performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, The Zouk Festival and in recitals in Spain, Guatemala, and her native Bangladesh.

Zamora, a Julliard graduate, has appeared with artists ranging from Plácido Domingo to Sting, and has performed with the London Symphony and Glimmerglass Opera. 

The group has as its mission keeping the arts alive in under-resourced schools, veterans”™ centers, disabled persons”™ networks, health care facilities and neighborhoods. Last summer, it placed 60 painted pianos outdoors in parks and other places where they could be played by the public before being donated to schools and other facilities. More than 400 of the painted pianos have been donated during the organization”™s 10-year history.