Joan's Closet

"Joan's Closet" is a labor of love by former MSM Board of Trustees member Joan Taub Ades, giving female students gently-used audition and recital gowns and outfits.

More than 200 MSM students benefit each year from donated performance formal and semi-formal attire in this annual event, established by Joan Taub Ades.

The eleventh annual Joan’s Closet, open exclusively to Manhattan School of Music students, took place at MSM’s Ades Performance Space in September of 2022.

The importance of the right choice of performance clothes

When a future world-class musician at Manhattan School of Music is preparing for an audition or recital, what she wears is important when making a first impression upon a judge or audience. Depending on a performer’s discipline, attire can play a vital part in the total presentation.

Thanks to Joan Taub Ades’ vision, generosity, and dedication, female MSM students are fortunate to be provided with these essential items that are so important to their musical career.

We hope that you can help Mrs. Ades in her mission!

Joan’s Closet is looking for the following items:

dresses
gowns
dress shoes
shawls and wraps
accessories

Press

Joan’s Closet featured on New York’s CBS2 October 2013, available online now.

Joan Ades has been featured as a “Donor of the Day” by The Wall Street Journal.

Ways to Donate
We thank you for your in-kind donation to Joan’s Closet.

To complete your donation please:
1. Complete a donation form (please list the donated items, along with a value for the items on the donation form)
2. Drop your donation off at the Manhattan School of Music
3. An official tax deduction receipt and acknowledgement letter will be provided to you from Manhattan School of Music.
Donation Drop-off

Manhattan School of Music
Monday-Friday
9AM-5PM

Mailing Address:
136 Claremont Avenue
New York, NY 10027
Please send packages ATTN: Joan’s Closet

Questions?
Contact
Stefano Brancato
sbrancato@msmnyc.edu
About Joan Taub Ades

Joan Taub Ades is a prominent member of New York’s premiere music philanthropic circles. Six years ago, Joan quietly created “Joan’s Closet,” which provides female students at Manhattan School of Music (MSM) with appropriate clothing for auditions, concerts, and recitals, at no charge. Much like a job interview, Joan believes the performers need to “look the part,” and with her knowledgeable guidance, she has provided hundreds of students with the proper attire.

Through Joan’s continued generosity, and the generosity of other donors, nearly 200 female students will again receive full outfits this year in October at MSM. The students will receive guidance on what to wear, and leave the space with a showtime-ready outfit, courtesy of “Joan’s Closet.” Joan and her husband Alan have been long-time supporters of MSM. Alan is a former board member, and Joan’s dedication to the school reaches well beyond “Joan’s Closet.”

Joan is in charge of the school’s vocal competition, and she has also spearheaded additional MSM innitatives including Music for the Seasons, an interactive concert series that brings stellar students and alumni to perform at NYC care programs and facilities. Interactive dialogue is a hallmark of this series and allows for the audience and musicians to share insights, associations, and responses to the music. Recently, under Joan’s guidance, Music for the Seasons expanded to include jazz programming at Project Renewal, a nonprofit that empowers homeless men and women suffering from addiction and/or mental illness to move permanently from the streets or shelters to health, homes, and jobs.

As a key component of their philanthropic efforts, in 2007, MSM opened the Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Performance Space. This versatile performance and event space accommodates 215 people and is outfitted for performances featuring dance, theater, or multimedia elements. Joan is also a former board member of the American Ballet Theater, served as president of Horizon Concerts, and was a docent at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, among many other activities. She has a graduate degree from New York University.

Currently, “Joan’s Closet” is open exclusively to all female students at MSM. As “Joan’s Closet” continues to grow, she hopes to eventually include clothing for male performers.