1. UNISOUND AND THE BTAR PROGRAM
A PROGRAM OF THREE RIVERS YOUNG PEOPLES ORCHESTRAS

2. ABOUT UNISOUND
Mission: To create a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable youth music ecosystem in the greater Pittsburgh
area through building an alliance of organizations that provide music education and performance opportunities
for youth. We accomplish this in three focus areas:
Strengthening
Organizations
Connecting Musical
Families with
Opportunities
Impacting Arts Education
Access and Equity

3. UNISOUND
ORGANIZATIONS
 Led by Steering Committee
 37 member organizations
 1 media partner
 Many more connections in
the works...

4. UNISOUND STRUCTURE
 UniSound is administrated by Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras, which maintains financial records and is
the employer of record for the UniSound Coordinator as well as the contractor of the Black Teaching Artists in
Residence Program (BTAR). TRYPO also provides equipment, office space, insurance policies, payroll,
technology needs, and all other administrative support for the success of the program.
 A Steering Committee comprised of UniSound organization representatives, the current BTARs and community
partners directs all UniSound initiatives.
 The Steering Committee meets monthly via Zoom with one-to-two annual in-person mini-retreats if possible.
 A member of the UniSound Steering Committee liaises with the TRYPO Board of Directors and reports to the
TRYPO board quarterly on UniSound activities. The TRYPO Board of Directors stays informed and verifies
financial oversight but otherwise defers to the UniSound Steering Committee on all programmatic activities.

5. UNISOUND STEERING COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE ROLES
• Linda Addlespurger: Director of Hope Academy of Music and the Arts. Role: Org Rep.
• Emily Bovan: UniSound Coordinator Role: Staff
• Anita Brown: multidisciplinary vocalist, songwriter, and producer. Role: 2021-22 BTAR
• Mark Despotakis: Director of Public and Government Affairs for the Pennsylvania Music Educators
Association. Role: Advocacy Chair.
• Dr. Zuly Inirio: Soprano. Role: 2021-22 BTAR
• Lindsey Nova: Executive Director of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras. Role: Advancement Co-Chair.
• Maggie Richardson: Jazzspace Consulting. Role: Advancement Co-Chair.
• Dr. Kendra Ross: Partner with Act3 Consulting Partners and Head of Social Impact for Duolingo. Role:
Interim Steering Committee Chair.
• Lee Saville-Iksic: Executive Director of Pittsburgh Youth Chorus. Role: TRYPO Board Liaison and Org rep.
• Melita Terry: Community Engagement Coordinator at University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer Disease Research
Center. Role: Parent Rep.

6. PAST YEAR OF UNISOUND…
 3 Exhibitor events
 3 Musical petting zoos
 1 Happy Hour meetup
 4 Black Teaching Artists-in-Residence
 1 Black Teaching Artist-in-Residence
concert
 3 Shared marketing initiatives

7. OTHER UPCOMING PROJECTS
 Parent/Teacher Corner: Answering the tough questions!
 Private Teacher Directory: Helping connect musical kids
with private teachers.

8. ABOUT THE CURRENT BTAR PROGRAM
 Act3 Consulting Partners facilitate the program.
 Goal: Support the music practice and professional
development of Black teaching artists in the Greater
Pittsburgh area.
 Nine-month residency: $1,000/month plus $2,000 towards
professional development.
 BTAR Workshop Programming
 New! BTARS have workshops available to local
organizations and schools across the Pittsburgh area.

9. INAUGURAL BLACK
TEACHING ARTISTS IN
RESIDENCE:
2020-21 SEASON
Dr. Brittany Trotter, Flutist
Prize-winning flutist Dr. Brittany Trotter
leads a diverse career as an educator,
soloist, and collaborator. She joined the
faculty of University of the Pacific’s
Conservatory of Music in Stockton, CA,
in the fall of 2021 after her time in the
BTAR program.
Lyn Starr, Multidisciplinary Performance
Artist
Lyn Starr is a performance artist, a teacher,
and CEO of High Five Productions,
which he founded at age 17 and
through which he has released four
mixtapes, five EPs and various singles.
Lyn is currently pursuing his Masters of
Science Degree in Music Industry at
University of Southern California.

10. BLACK TEACHING
ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE:
2021-22 SEASON
Dr. Zuly Inirio, Vocalist
Zuly is a Dominican-American soprano who
appeared as a soloist throughout the United
States and Europe. Inirio holds a Doctor of
Musical Arts degree and a Master of Music
degree from Louisiana State University where
she was the recipient of a full-tuition
scholarship.
Anita Levels, Multidisciplinary Artist
Anita is a self-taught vocal artist, songwriter,
and producer who began singing at the age of
3 years old in Frankfurt, West Germany. In
she toured the country of Holland as the
director and founder of the Carlow College
Gospel choir of the time, called “Blessed,” with
the internationally recognized
ethnomusicologist, Dr. Portia Maultsby.

11. THE FUTURE OF BTAR
The Change we seek:
•Children of color need to see
themselves represented in
their teachers.
•We need teaching artists of
color in this region,
particularly on specific
instruments like violin.
Concept:
•Maintain current program
•Add a two-to-three year
contracted full-time teaching
position. Consider violinist to
start.
•TRYPO would sub-contract
the teaching artist to a
number of different
organizations in town to
create a full-time position
with a weekly teaching
schedule.
Interested partners:
•Hope Academy (primary
contract)
•HipHop Orchestra/Guardians
of Sound
•Youth Chamber Connection
•(TRYPO large ensembles as
is possible)
Challenges:
•Structure of additional
position: Attract an
established BTAR to move
here or develop a new
graduate with potential?
•Pittsburgh can be known as
a difficult city for people of
color. Continue to build
wrap-around support and
provide BTAR network.
•COVID-19 continues to limit
in-person opportunities.
Opportunities:
•Help teaching artists of color
become established in
Pittsburgh.
•Be part of creating
additional networking
opportunities for Black
teaching artists of color.
•UniSound’s first revenue
potential in shared services.

12. BTAR PROGRAM: ANNUAL BUDGET BREAKDOWN (2022-23
SEASON)
Full-time position: Sample break-down for program and wrap-
around support dependent on experience/resume of successful
candidate $72,000
Annual Salary (one new full-time position): $32,500 - $40,000
Taxes and retirement: $3,000 - $5,000
Healthcare benefits: $10,000 - $15,000
Housing/Moving Allowance: $9,000 - $16,000
Professional Support: $2,000 - $10,000
Maintaining BTAR Ambassadors: Current Program $24,000
Monthly stipends (two positions, $1,000 each for 9-months): $18,000
Professional Development ($2,000 each): $4,000
Optional Additional Community Workshops (10 @ $200 each): $2,000

13. ANTICIPATED THREE-YEAR UNISOUND TOTAL BUDGET
BUDGET
2022-23
SEASON
2023-24
SEASON
2024-25
SEASON
BTAR Program (Previous Slide breaks out the 2022-23 season) $96,000.00 $88,200.00 $80,520.00
Consultants (ACT3 Consultants BTAR Program Facilitation, other
consultants for UniSound programming) $17,500.00 $17,500.00 $17,500.00
UniSound Coordinator $20,000.00 $25,000.00 $30,000.00
UniSound Shared Marketing Projects/Other Program Expenses $12,000.00 $12,000.00 $12,000.00
Steering Committee Stipends $4,000.00 $4,000.00 $4,000.00
TRYPO Overhead (office, insurance, ED time, equipment, technology, $20,000.00 $20,000.00 $20,000.00
TOTAL $169,500.00 $166,700.00 $164,020.00
THREE-YEAR TOTAL: $500,220.00

14. BUDGET NOTES
 Annual revenue sources: Potentially between $20,000-$30,000 from BTAR subcontracted fees.
 Some of full-time position support will step down over time (such as the housing allowance).
 Program and Budget Plans Subject to change: If the first year of the full-time BTAR position is successful,
would we add a second full-time position in a different medium such as voice in Year 2 or 3? The Steering
Committee and members organizations may also develop new program initiatives as emergence from COVID
continues.
 Full-time position expenses ranges: If a more experienced BTAR is selected, salary could be higher and
professional development resources could be lower. If a lesser experienced BTAR is selected, professional
development resources could be higher and salary could be lower. Healthcare benefits cost can vary. Taxes
and retirement will scale with salary (TRYPO retirement plan is Simple IRA with 3% match).
 Shared Marketing/Other Program Expenses include: Quarterly Opportunity Round-Ups (promoting UniSound
organization opportunities for students), Annual UniSound Gatherings, Mini-Grants to Organizations, etc.
 Steering Committee Stipends: The UniSound Steering Committee is not a small time commitment. Committee
Members who are not already receiving payment from TRYPO (TRYPO ED, UniSound Coordinator, BTARs) can
direct an annual $500.00 stipend to themselves or to an organization of their choosing. (8 stipends per year)