POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music hosted a recent roundtable discussion about the future of music education, moderated by superstar soprano and arts ambassador Renée Fleming and SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.

With a cross-sector panel of accomplished experts, educators and practitioners, the discussion was hosted on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Yamaha Piano Salon in New York City.

"This event was the result of a thoughtful process of visioning and planning, and we at The Crane School of Music sincerely hope that it represents the beginning of a new conversation leading toward our collective goal of ensuring access to meaningful, high-quality music education for every student in our nation's schools," said Crane School of Music Dean Michael Sitton. "We are proud to partner with SUNY and with our eminent alumna, Renée Fleming, to ensure that this discussion will mark a newfound momentum and lead to creative partnership-building as we spark a national conversation about the future of music education."

Following introductory remarks by SUNY Potsdam President Kristin G. Esterberg, roundtable participants discussed ways to make music education accessible to all children, how to train music teachers prepared to educate children from all backgrounds and how to build partnerships with the music industry to benefit students and schools.

The group also analyzed the role that philanthropy can play in aligning cultural and educational institutions, while delving into possible models for creating broad, sustained national support for music education.

The roundtable participants included: Michael Brownell, president of the New York State School Music Association; Adriano Clemente, director of education at Dubspot NYC; Lori Custodero, associate professor of music and music education at Teachers College at Columbia University/co-creator of WeBop at Jazz at Lincoln Center; Eric Ebel, senior project manager for public affairs and government relations at the National Association of Music Merchants; Paul King, executive director of the Office of Arts and Special Projects for the New York City Department of Education; Bob Morrison, chief executive officer of Quadrant Research; Marcia Neel, senior director of education at Yamaha Corporation of America; Michael Sitton, dean of The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, and Ann Ziff, philanthropist and chair of the Metropolitan Opera Board of Directors.

For more information visit www.potsdam.edu/crane.