Roberta Guaspari leading the Opus 118 Performance Group with musical guests Mark O'Connor on violin, John Burr, on bass, Cho-liang Lin on violin and Robert A. Wilson on piano.

Nile receives his honor from (L to R) Roberta Guaspari, Dorothea von Haeften and Lee Koonce

Nile shows off his award – a photo of the Opus 118 children and their instruments.

On May 18, 2005, Nile was honored by the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music at their annual Fiddlefeast fundraiser in New York . Held at the new Allen Room at the Frederick P. Rose Hall Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center , Nile was presented with the honor by Dorothea von Haeften (President of Opus 118), Roberta Guaspari (Co-founder of Opus 118) and Lee Koonce (Exec. Director of Opus 118), for his contribution to the world of music and as the founder and chairman of the We Are Family Foundation.

For nearly 15 years, Opus 118 Harlem School of Music has used music education and string playing to promote the love of music, improve academic performance, provide positive alternatives to drugs and violence, build confidence and self-esteem, and help children explore the world. Opus 118's work is documented in the Academy Award-nominated documentary, Small Wonders and in the feature film Music of the Heart , starring Meryl Streep in her Academy Award-nominated performance as Roberta Guaspari, Opus 118's co-founder and Artistic Director.

For more information on Opus 118 Harlem School of Music please click here.