Our Story
New York City is one of the greatest music cities in the world. It is also a city where thousands of young people grow up without real access to music education — no lessons, no ensemble experience, no stage to perform on.
That gap doesn't reflect a lack of talent or desire. It reflects a lack of infrastructure, investment, and access. Sexton Arts was founded in January 2026 to be part of the solution.
Sexton Arts, Inc. is organized for charitable and educational purposes to expand access to high-quality music education and performance opportunities for youth and the community of New York City and beyond.
Mission, Vision and Values
Our Mission Sexton Arts expands access to high-quality music education, ensemble training, and live performance opportunities for young people and communities across New York City.
Our Vision We envision a New York City where every young person, regardless of background or income, has access to meaningful music study, artistic community, and the joy of live performance.
Our Values
Access — We design programs to reach the students who need them most, not just those who can afford them.
Quality — We hold our instruction, our ensembles, and our performances to a professional standard. Access and excellence are not in conflict.
Community — Music is a communal act. We build programs that connect students to each other, to audiences, and to a wider musical world.
Honesty — We are a young organization. We say what we do, we do what we say, and we build credibility through action, not assertion.
Jazz as a Foundation — Jazz informs our culture: its discipline, improvisation, collective listening, and deep cultural roots. These values extend across everything we do.
We provide music lessons, youth ensembles, workshops, and community performances for young people ages 10–18 in New York City. Programs are led by professional teaching artists and designed to be accessible regardless of family income.
We partner with schools, community organizations, and venues to deliver programs at low or no cost when funding allows. Programs are open to all participants and are designed to build musicianship, creativity, discipline, and lifelong engagement with music.
Founding Board of Directors
CALVIN SEXTON
Founder, President, Artistic Director
Calvin Sexton is a New York City–based trombonist, composer, and certified music educator originally from Birmingham, Alabama. He holds a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from New York University Steinhardt and a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Texas. He is certified to teach Music K-12 and Special Education K-12 in both New York and Texas, and was nominated for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award in 2015. Over two decades, Sexton has performed nationally and internationally as a soloist, ensemble leader, and collaborator. He has given concerts, residencies, and clinics at more than 100 colleges and universities. He has toured with Armed Forces Entertainment in Japan, Guam, and Okinawa, and performed at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem, the Apollo Theater, the Meyerson Symphony Center, and Tipitina's. He has collaborated with Erykah Badu, Gladys Knight, Lucky Peterson, Lady Bo, and Atlantic Starr. His work has been recognized through the South Arts Jazz Road Creative Residency ($40,000), the New York State Council on the Arts, City Artist Corps, and Dallas Cultural Vitality Program. His ensemble received a standing ovation on Showtime at the Apollo. Before founding Sexton Arts, Sexton spent over 15 years creating youth music programs — including summer jazz camps, the Salsa Trombone Project, and community music programs for underserved youth in Dallas. He taught in New York City public schools from 2021 to 2024. Sexton Arts formalizes the work he has been doing for more than a decade: bringing high-quality music education and meaningful ensemble experiences to young people who need them most.
NATASHA STANDARD
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER | SECRETARY
Natasha Norie Standard is a veteran, designer, and entrepreneur. She served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Major with experience in Special Operations and logistics. She earned a master's degree in luxury and fashion management from the Savannah College of Art and Design and studied shoe design in Milan. She is the founder of Norie Shoes and EQWAL Footing. She brings leadership, operational discipline, and entrepreneurial experience to the board.
LESLIE SANDEFUR
Founding Board Member, Treasurer
Leslie Sandefur is a professional soprano, vocal educator, and arts leader. She has performed with opera companies and symphonies across the United States, made her Carnegie Hall debut at age 20, and won the Leontyne Price National Vocal Competition. She serves on the Elk Grove Arts Commission and maintains a private vocal studio. She brings artistic excellence, community arts leadership, and music education experience to the board.
Governance
Sexton Arts is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors that provides strategic oversight, financial accountability, and institutional guidance. Our board is composed of individuals committed to the mission of music access and to the responsible stewardship of donor resources.
Our Governance Structure
Sexton Arts operates under a formal board-approved set of bylaws, conflict-of-interest policies, and financial controls. The organization is incorporated in the State of New York and holds 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service.
The Board of Directors meets regularly to review organizational finances, approve budgets, oversee programmatic strategy, and ensure Sexton Arts remains accountable to its mission and to the communities it serves.
Transparency
As a registered nonprofit, Sexton Arts is committed to financial transparency. Our annual IRS Form 990 will be made available upon request and posted here as filings become available.
To request financial documents or governance materials, contact us at info@sextonarts.org
Contact the Board
The Sexton Arts Board of Directors welcomes inquiries from community members, funders, and organizational partners. Please direct board-related correspondence to board at board@sextonarts.org or via our general contact form.