Leadership & stewardship.
A 37-year cultural institution is built and sustained by the people who believe in it — the executive director who steers the mission, the board that safeguards it, the staff who deliver it every day, and the partners who help it grow.
Meet the people stewarding the tradition forward.
Antonio Thompson
Antonio Thompson is an arts leader, musician, and nonprofit executive committed to advancing the marching arts as a pathway for youth development and cultural preservation.
As a performer, he marched and toured with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, earning a World Championship title in 2003 — an experience that continues to shape his commitment to discipline, excellence, and the highest standards of performance.
A classically trained trumpeter, Antonio earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Music Performance and Arts Administration from New York University, and a Master of Science in Fundraising Management from Columbia University, where he served as Class Marshal.
Since 2009, Antonio has served as Executive Director of BK Steppers, guiding the organization through revitalization, expansion, and sustained growth. Under his leadership, BK Steppers now serves more than 350 young people annually across New York City and Westchester County, has deepened its partnership with the NYCPS Arts Office, and has launched signature events including the Next Wave Drumline Festival.
BK Steppers’ ensembles have been featured on major stages, in television programs, and in Hollywood films — including Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It Season 2, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and Disney’s Enchanted. Alumni have gone on to perform in productions such as Beyoncé’s Homecoming while pursuing higher education at prestigious colleges and universities.
Antonio’s long-term vision includes building sustainable program models and establishing a permanent home for the marching arts — a dedicated space where students can train, perform, and grow year-round.
Prior to his current work, Antonio’s fundraising career generated more than $100 million in philanthropic support for higher education institutions and causes.
A gifted trumpeter, Antonio studied under notable mentors including Thomas Hoyt, Ronald Anderson, Laurie Frank, and Wynton Marsalis, and continues to perform trumpet gigs throughout the greater New York region.
Antonio is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and serves on the B.E.A.M. Foundation Board as Director of Educational Activities, helping guide the Foundation’s educational vision and programming. He lives with his wife, their two children, and their family dog.
Governance
that matches the mission.
The BK Steppers Board of Directors brings expertise in law, finance, education, and the arts to the stewardship of a cultural institution. The board meets quarterly and maintains active Executive, Governance, and Fundraising committees.
Partner, Massumi + Consoli
Partner, Floyd Advisory
Antonio Thompson, Executive Director, serves on the Board in a non-voting capacity.
The people behind
the pathway.
BK Steppers operates with a lean, senior team supported by a strong roster of teaching artists. Every staff member is responsible for a specific piece of the cultural institution's mission.
Built to last.
Built to account.
BK Steppers operates with strong governance practices appropriate to a 37-year cultural institution. The board maintains active committee structures, reviews financials on a quarterly cadence, and publishes audited financial statements and Form 990 annually.
Help steward a cultural institution.
BK Steppers is actively recruiting board members with expertise in real estate and facilities, major gifts fundraising, and marketing and brand strategy. The board give/get expectation is $3,000 annually.
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