April 20, 2021
Love in Music was awarded the HIPP Award in the Pay It Forward category, honoring its commitment to bridging racial divides through music.
Since its founding in May 2007 in Los Angeles, Love in Music has brought together Korean volunteers to teach free music lessons to Black and Hispanic youth. This long-standing dedication to fostering unity through music played a key role in earning this recognition.
The HIPP Award, established in 2020 by the Society of SPS (St. Paul’s School), commemorates Robert Aurelius Hipp, one of the first Black students at the prestigious St. Paul’s School. The award recognizes individuals and organizations nominated by the SPS community for their efforts in improving society, with recipients receiving a $10,000 grant.
The nomination for Love in Music came from Celis Lee, an SPS graduate who volunteered as a violin instructor with the organization for four years. She began her volunteer work as a freshman at Peninsula High School, continuing even after transferring to St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire and later attending Wellesley College.
The Society of SPS expressed excitement in selecting Love in Music as the first recipient of the HIPP Award’s Pay It Forward category, especially given the renewed emphasis on racial unity following the 2020 Black Lives Matter movement. The $10,000 grant will support remote learning efforts, instrument purchases, and repairs.
This award highlights how Love in Music, which began as a small volunteer effort in Los Angeles, has now gained national recognition for its impact. The organization remains committed to using music as a powerful tool for bringing communities together.