Apogee is Excellence in the Art of Performance

Our Mission

Our Vision

Our Values

Apogee's Origins

Apogee was born, phoenix-like, from the collapse of the former Soviet Union and from creative people’s struggle there to emerge from the challenges this presented to cultivate humanity’s highest potential. The next Vladimir Horowitz, the next Konstantin Stanislavsky, Fyodor Chaliapin, Mikhail Baryshnikov: people with such amazing talents were failing to fulfill their destinies within systems being managed according to the imploded economic and philosophical paradigms of a failed era.

Unimaginable mutations occurred and, in the Foundation grew out of the concerted efforts of a highly skilled and dedicated group of international professionals to rectify the resulting human catastrophes.

During its evolution into a vehicle with global impact, a crystalized awareness and institutional plan of action emerged reaching beyond this specific set of crises and opportunities: one dedicated for the first time to recognizing and developing such extraordinary artistic genius wherever it might be found, and to overcoming the challenges to realizing such monumental human potential whatever they might be.

With recruitment of additional forces from around the world and Apogee's ensuing march first throughout Eurasia and then around the globe, the Foundation's mission of promoting humanity's greatest potential from the earliest stages of its beneficiaries' career cycles became an opportunity for every participant in this historic movement to create a lasting legacy for all mankind: literally "recreating the future of human creativity."

1997/1998
The Dawn of Apogee

First international student exchange program organized
First U.S.A. scholarship provided
First C.I.S. scholarship provided

1998/1999
The Expansion Begins

First professional and financial partnerships formed
First large scale donation of equipment to a major cultural institution
First international funding vehicle organized for a major program
First legal, accounting and financial services provided
First administrative and governance models developed
First programmed delivery of assistance to gifted artists
First nutritional support program for students initiated
First medical supplies obtained and provided to a training institution
First international faculty exchange program organized

1999/2000:
A Bold New Vision Emerges

Increase in support for emerging performers and leading instructors
First national merit scholarship program implemented
First assistance in producing a major performance tour
First choreography and costumes commissioned and performed
First independent performances organized and produced
First marshalling of business and political leaders to promote reform
First immigration services provided to beneficiaries for study abroad
First underwriting of a study abroad program for gifted artists

2000/2001
Taking Charge of Destiny

First collaboration with national governmental agencies
First institutional redevelopment plan promulgated
Doubling of direct assistance programs to gifted artists
Producing of first concert series
Development of first academic syllabus
First collaboration with a major international arts competition
First appointment to oversee a marquee academic institution
First anti-corruption program initiated and promoted
Launch of the international Apogee Foundation trademark
Institutionalization of international summer study grants

2001/2002
Apogee Evolves into a Global Vision

First partnership with a regional government administration
First programs for economically disadvantaged areas
First regional auditions to identify world class talent
First training program organized, financed and run in entirety
First talent from remote areas brought into elite institutions
First donation of equipment into underpriveleged regions
Full spectrum of assistance provided for all career phases
First large corporate partnership and grant implemented
First institutional reform and security programs implemented
First donation of large transport vehicles to institutions
First implementation of health and performance technologies
First high tech medical equipment procured and provided
First grant of computer technology and website
First modernization / reform collaboration with global auditors

2002/2003
Beyond Borders, Beyond Bounds

Bold refocusing beyond the C.I.S. to adopt a global perspective
Formalization of scholarship programs and increase in funding
First Rising Star Award awarded to recognize emerging artists
First grant provided for full-year of study abroad
First introduction of C.I.S. talent into elite Western training
First grant provided to a third-party NGO

First and second year Bolshoi Ballet Academy students backstage during a full scale Academy performance at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow during the years when Apogee experimented with regime change and sought to reform this institution from within so that such impressionable, developing talents could achieve their greatest potential as human beings on the world stage.

Click image to enlarge

During the five years from 1997 to 2002, Apogee's principals and partners provided the Bolshoi Academy with the most substantial economic, political and technological resources ever made available to this institution from the private sector. To insure that those whom this institution was intended to serve would have the benefit of these resources, going forward, during the 2001/2002 academic year Apogee attempted to implement the first complete restructuring of a Russian performing arts institution in post-communist Russia.