Our Story

The Intermezzo Fund, a grassroots organization with a mission rooted in arts social justice, was started in March of 2024 as a class project at the School of Music, Theater, and Dance at the University of Michigan.

Our Kickoff Benefit Concert, held on April 14th, 2024, raised $3,896, 100% from individual donations of SMTD faculty, staff, students, and community members.

Thanks to this support, we’ve completed two scholarship cycles, totaling $3,000 in awards, that have been distributed to 12 local high school musicians with financial need. These students have been able to cover costs including ensemble fees, program tuition, instrument accessories, voice and cello lessons, a new bow, uniforms, and more!

In April of 2025, we hosted our One Year Celebratory Benefit Concert in Ann Arbor! We presented the past year’s scholarship recipients, some of whom played alongside college music students at the University of Michigan. We also featured keynote speaker Damien Crutcher, CEO of Crescendo Detroit and Managing Director of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Detroit Harmony.

We serve high school musicians in Southeast Michigan, which includes the following counties: Lenawee, Monroe, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Jackson, Ingham, Livingston, Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb County.