We were lucky to catch up with Matthew Maimone recently and have shared our conversation below.
Matthew, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the decision of whether to donate a percentage of sales to an organization or cause – we’d love to hear the backstory of how you thought through this.
The month before my audition at The Juilliard School, I practiced the piano for eight hours a day, every single day. I was just ten years old, but couldn’t get enough time on the keyboard! One of the youngest applicants in the school’s history, I had no idea what the next twelve years of conservatory study would have in store for me. Although full of ups and downs, my time at Juilliard was an incredible and unforgettable experience.
When I graduated with academic honors in 2017, I founded Metropolitan Concert Artists, a company that connects conservatory-trained performers with students all over the world for private music lessons. MCA is committed to shrinking the gap in access to education by pooling a portion of all operating revenues to grow a scholarship fund for students without access to private music lessons and instruments.
This business model was inspired by my wife’s non-profit, Concerts for Compassion, an entity that brings music and educational workshops to refugees in the United States and abroad. It was on a humanitarian tour with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Concerts for Compassion, where I served as a visiting instructor, teaching hundreds of music lessons to refugees and displaced peoples in Central America, that my perspective shifted dramatically. As a small cohort of tutors, we would all arrive at a new town each morning to teach brief five-minute lessons to a long queue of eager students who had never had access to musical instruments before. Seeing the big smiles on these young students’ faces was all I needed to know that I had just witnessed the power of self-discovery firsthand. On the plane ride home, I began to question why I was so lucky to have had the opportunities I’ve had in my life. So, when I returned to the United States, I changed the business model of my company so that a portion of all proceeds would contribute to a scholarship fund for students who cannot afford music education.
This fund took a stride forward when we were able to provide scholarships during the pandemic. Within two weeks of the first reported case of Covid-19 in New York City, I launched MCA’s Summer Music Intensive – a completely online program that provided remote, live, one-on-one music lessons, yoga, guest performances, and free informational seminars. We were able to subsidize the cost of attending this initiative for students who were unable to pay the full rate. I am immensely proud of this program and hope to create more opportunities for learning like this in the future.
Passionate about combining my knowledge in the arts with a refined understanding of entrepreneurship, I am committed to growing MCA’s base of clients as well as our scholarship fund. My hope is that every young artist has the chance to see their joy of music fulfilled.
Matthew, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Since I have shared a bit about my musical journey, I would love to share a bit about where I am right now! Because of my interest and passion for entrepreneurship, I was curious to find ways to further MCA’s growth and impact. So, after writing essays, months of GRE studying, and multiple interviews, I can happily say that I have just finished my first year at Columbia Business School.
The past two semesters have flown by! During my first year, I served as Associate Vice President of Fundraising at Columbia Business School’s Impact Investing Fund (Microlumbia), and, to learn more about the asset and wealth management industry, I will be working at J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank this summer in NYC.
A few fun facts about me to sum it all up: I received a Golden Ticket on American Idol as a singer/songwriter, I wrote and performed in an Off-Broadway musical comedy entitled “With A Song In My Fists,” and I have toured as an educator in partnership with Concerts For Compassion, a non-profit that brings music to refugees across the globe. In my free time, I enjoy long runs (no, seriously) with my wife, Jocelyn, and cooking new recipes from the NYTimes Cooking App.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Although easier said than done, remembering a defining fact or story about every client that I interact with has been a fantastic way to connect with them. I keep a log of all conversations in our CRM software and in a small notebook I keep with me at all times. Little touches like remembering how long a client used to play an instrument, what their favorite song used to be, and the names of their children help foster a lasting connection that is crucial to a growing business.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Absolutely. Am I Being Too Subtle?: Straight Talk From a Business Rebel by Sam Zell is a riot. A business magnate and undeniable people person, Sam Zell talks about all the ways he developed relationships with clients from the ground up. Although some of his methods are non-traditional (he used to send music boxes custom made to clients containing their favorite tunes), the idea of radical personalization really stuck with me. Making people feel special is not only a great way to grow a base of clientele, but also to make lifelong friends. Also, Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike was a great read for aspiring entrepreneurs!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.metropolitanconcertartists.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthewmaimone/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-maimone/