Keanan Duffty to Receive Honor From Education Through Music

Keanan Duffty wears many hats: designer, musician, educator. Now he is going to be honored for his skill at blending fashion and music by Education Through Music at its annual gala in May.

The event on May 15 — “Making Minds Sings” — will honor individuals who have made an impact in their respective fields while also sharing the organization’s commitment to the power of music education. Education Through Music is a nonprofit dedicated to providing music education to more than 20,000 students a week in underserved schools in New York City.

Duffty will receive the group’s ETM Music Innovation Award for his decades-long contribution to the intersection of music and fashion design. Duffty, originally from Doncaster, England, is the cofounder of the alternative rock band Slinky Vagabond, which recently released its eighth album, “The Eternal Return.” He is also a CFDA Award recipient and member, and over the course of his career has collaborated on fashion collections with companies ranging from Reebok and Dr. Martens to Gwen Stefani, The Sex Pistols and David Bowie.

In addition to Duffty, the event will honor Frank Alvarado, global head of enterprise project management operations at CBRE/Turner & Townsend, who will receive the group’s Impact Award for his 20-plus-year dedication building global programs across the real estate industry.

The gala, which will be held at 583 Park Avenue in New York, will be hosted by hip-hop personality Sway Calloway and will include live performances.

“We are excited to celebrate another year of bringing music education to students who need it most,” said Dr. Janice Weinman, chief executive officer of Education Through Music. “Music has the power to transform lives by building confidence, inspiring creativity and improving overall school performance.”

ETM was founded in 1991 and since its launch has provided 8 million hours of music instruction to New York City students.