The Harmony Chorus performs in Bangalore, India for the school's 15th anniversary celebration. Photo: Rohit Sherikar
The NYU Steinhardt Vocal Pedagogy Outreach Program (VPOP), an initiative within the Vocal Performance program at NYU Steinhardt, has announced a new international partnership with Harmony – The Music School, a contemporary music institution in Bangalore, India known for its student-centered approach to vocal training and ensemble performance. Launching in the 2026–2027 academic year, the collaboration marks the program’s first sustained global partnership.
Since its founding in March 2020, VPOP has connected graduate students in vocal pedagogy with culturally, geographically, and economically underserved communities across the United States. The initiative has reached more than 2,000 students in 30 communities, demonstrating how music and individual expression can build connection, confidence, and community.
Over the past six years, more than 70 graduate instructors from NYU Steinhardt’s Vocal Performance program have partnered with secondary school music programs nationwide to design and deliver workshops focused on vocal health, efficiency, wellness, and sustainable singing practices. The sessions equip young singers with tools that support both artistic development and personal well-being while fostering meaningful musical exchange.
Through the new partnership with Harmony, NYU graduate students will collaborate with an international community of singers and educators in India, bringing together musicians from diverse cultural and educational backgrounds and highlighting singing as a powerful platform for cross-cultural dialogue and artistic exchange.
“The Vocal Pedagogy program explores the intersection of psychological health, the arts, and communication,” said Dr. Justin John Moniz, Associate Director of Vocal Performance and Coordinator of Vocal Pedagogy at NYU Steinhardt. “Through partnerships like this one with Harmony, we are able to build bridges across cultures and connect people around the world through music and individual expression.”
“At Harmony, we are committed to building versatility in our students while encouraging sustainable singing and purposeful musicking,” said Sandra Oberoi, Founder and Director of Harmony – The Music School and Artistic Director of The Harmony Chorus. “This partnership with NYU Steinhardt strengthens our shared vision and will allow students to experience evidence-based, wellness-centered, and culturally enriched teaching.”
As VPOP prepares for its seventh season, the program continues its mission to expand access to vocal education, strengthen international partnerships, and share the transformative power of singing with communities around the world.
