Tony Bennett's School Of The Arts Re-Opens In New Building

He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but legendary crooner Tony Bennett's passion is in the City that knows how. That city would be New York and the 83-year-old singer's passion for arts advocacy has paid off big time.

Last month, the new $78 million Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (FSSA) opened in a gorgeous permanent home on 35th Street in Queens, just blocks from Bennett's boyhood home. Though the school has been open since 2001, its former facilities like many public schools were less than stellar. After lobbying city officials for more funding and a better site, Bennett's foundation Exploring The Arts (ETA) that was handed nearly $80 million to complete construction on a new building.

How can you say no to a foundation led by one of music's most talented icons? It would be difficult when he's backed by an advisory committee filled with so many influential entertainment luminaries including chairman Harry Belafonte, Carol Burnett, Diana Krall, Al Pacino, Paul Taylor and Joanne Woodward. Founded in 1999, ETA was designed to support programs that "teach young artists to embrace true craft over the cult of fame that pervades our culture."

"Frank was so beautiful to me my whole career and always considered me his favourite singer," said Bennett, said earlier this year in an interview with AP. "By calling it the Sinatra School it's a symbol of hoping that the students will always do something with integrity, not just for fame and a quick buck which is quite prevalent today."

Sinatra remarked in an interview with Life magazine nearly 50 years ago that Tony Bennett "is the best singer in the business." Their friendship lasted until Sinatra's death and Bennett credits The Chairman with helping to launch his career.

The school's curriculum is destined to launch many more careers. Similar to another popular school, LaGuardia Arts in Manhattan (or the "Fame" school) it offers studio courses in music, fine art, dance, drama, film and media arts. In order to be admitted to the school, a student must audition for one of the art programs.

Students have six periods of academic classes and three periods in their studio. All students within the school are able to try out for advanced ensembles, usually beginning in 11th grade, such as Jazz Ensemble, Musical Theater, and Chamber Singers.

"We're the opposite of instant fame," Bennett tells USA Today. "We want to teach the students quality and to do things that will last forever."

Photo courtesy of nyc.gov.