218 Stratford St Unit 3
Houston TX 77006
Call Us
+1 (832) 647-8730
Write to us
contacto@theponceproject.org
3812 La Branch St. Apt. 4
Houston TX 77004
Call Us
+1 (832) 647-8730
Write to us
contacto@theponceproject.org
Follow us:
- ES
Houston TX 77006
+1 (832) 647-8730
contacto@theponceproject.org
Houston TX 77004
+1 (832) 647-8730
contacto@theponceproject.org
The Ponce Project / Ponce Project Music Foundation
Effective Date: October 17, 2026
The Ponce Project, an initiative of Ponce Project Music Foundation (“PPMF,” “The Ponce Project,” “we,” “our,” or “us”), respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly.
Ponce Project Music Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in Houston, Texas, dedicated to researching, preserving, performing, promoting, and educating the public about Latin American classical music. Its activities include international piano competitions, concerts, educational initiatives, music research, the dissemination of musical scores, audiovisual recordings, publications, and fundraising.
This Privacy Policy explains how personal information may be collected, used, disclosed, stored, and otherwise processed when you visit our official website, https://theponceproject.org/, contact us, participate in our activities, apply for a competition, make a donation, purchase event tickets through a linked service, or otherwise interact with us.
Our website may provide access to third-party platforms, including external ticketing services and payment channels. Those services may process personal information under their own privacy policies and terms.
We aim to provide transparency about our privacy practices without representing that we use specific technologies, third-party providers, or security measures that have not been independently verified.
By using our website, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review this Privacy Policy. Where applicable law requires consent or another lawful basis for processing, we will rely on the appropriate basis rather than treating website use alone as consent.
The organization associated with this website is Ponce Project Music Foundation, which operates The Ponce Project’s cultural, musical, educational, and competition activities.
For privacy-related questions, requests, or concerns, you may contact us using the following information:
Organization: Ponce Project Music Foundation / The Ponce Project
Email: contacto@theponceproject.org
Website: https://theponceproject.org/
Location: Houston, Texas, United States.
Our website identifies Houston, Texas, as the organization’s location. This Privacy Policy does not designate a separate privacy officer or claim that a dedicated privacy department exists.
For your protection, please do not send payment card numbers, banking credentials, passwords, government identification numbers, or other highly sensitive information through general website contact forms or ordinary email unless we have specifically established an appropriate and secure process for receiving it.
The personal information we collect depends on how you interact with The Ponce Project.
We may collect the following categories of information when you voluntarily provide it, when it is generated through your use of our website, or when it is provided to us by an authorized third party.
3.1. Contact Information
Our publicly accessible website includes contact forms requesting information such as:
The fields displayed may vary between website pages and language versions.
We use this information to respond to inquiries, communicate with individuals who contact us, direct requests to the appropriate team, and manage relevant organizational activities.
We do not represent that every field is required or that all forms collect identical information.
3.2. Competition Applications and Participant Information
The Ponce Project organizes international piano competitions, including competitions with live and virtual participation options and divisions for young artists and other eligible pianists.
Individuals who apply for or participate in a competition may provide information necessary to administer their applications and participation.
Depending on the actual requirements of a particular competition, this information may include:
The specific information collected depends on the competition, its published rules, and the application process in effect at the relevant time.
We have not independently verified every field used in the competition application systems. Accordingly, this Policy does not assert that all the information listed above is collected from every applicant.
We use participant information to process applications, verify eligibility, organize competition activities, communicate with applicants, coordinate judges and event personnel, administer awards, document results, and fulfill applicable administrative or legal obligations.
3.3. Photographs, Audio Recordings, and Videos
The Ponce Project’s cultural activities may involve concerts, competitions, educational programs, interviews, performances, and other public or private events.
In connection with these activities, photographs, audio recordings, and videos may be created, received, or published.
Depending on the circumstances, audiovisual materials may contain:
Such materials may be used for purposes including event documentation, artistic and educational promotion, preservation of musical heritage, competition reporting, institutional publications, historical archives, and the dissemination of information about our programs.
Materials may appear on our website, in digital publications, in social media communications, in promotional materials, or on other communication channels operated by us or authorized collaborators.
The publication of a person’s image, voice, performance, name, or other identifiable information will be subject to the applicable permissions, legal requirements, and circumstances of the particular activity. We do not claim that participation in an event automatically constitutes unrestricted consent to every possible use of audiovisual material.
Where appropriate, separate authorization may be required for recording, publication, promotional use, or other uses of a participant’s likeness or performance.
The applicable permissions and procedures may vary according to the event, the participant’s age, the nature of the recording, and the relevant legal requirements.
3.4. Donations and Contributions
The Ponce Project accepts donations and supports fundraising initiatives intended to advance its cultural, educational, research, and musical preservation activities.
The website also provides information about contribution amounts and payment options, including a Zelle donation channel identified as donation@theponceproject.org.
When making a donation, you may provide or cause a payment provider or financial institution to process information such as:
The information actually received by The Ponce Project depends on the payment method used and the information made available by the relevant provider or financial institution.
For example, a bank transfer or Zelle transaction may make certain identifying or transaction details visible to the recipient. The information available may differ from that collected through a payment card processor.
We do not claim that the website itself collects or stores payment card numbers, banking credentials, or complete financial account details.
Donors should review the privacy policies of their financial institutions and payment providers before completing a transaction.
We may use donation information to record contributions, reconcile transactions, communicate with donors, acknowledge gifts, maintain financial records, administer fundraising campaigns, and comply with applicable accounting and legal obligations.
A donation does not automatically authorize us to publish the donor’s name, contribution amount, or other identifying information. Public recognition of donors will be handled in accordance with applicable permissions, expectations, and legal requirements.
3.5. Event Tickets and External Registration Services
Our website may direct visitors to third-party websites to purchase tickets, register for events, or obtain additional information.
External ticketing services may request information such as a purchaser’s name, email address, telephone number, payment details, ticket selection, and transaction information.
When you leave our website and interact with a third-party service, that service may collect and process your information under its own privacy policy.
We do not control the independent privacy practices of external ticketing providers and cannot guarantee how those providers handle information.
Before submitting personal or financial information through an external service, please review the applicable privacy policy and terms of that service.
3.6. Communications and Correspondence
When you contact us by email, telephone, or another communication channel, we may retain the information contained in your inquiry and our response.
This may include your name, contact details, the subject of your inquiry, the content of your message, attachments you voluntarily provide, and records of subsequent communications.
We may use these records to respond to your requests, coordinate organizational activities, address complaints, maintain relevant administrative records, and document decisions or commitments.
3.7. Website Usage and Technical Information
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be generated or processed by the website infrastructure, your browser, or the services used to deliver website content.
Depending on the technologies actually implemented, this information may include:
We have not independently verified the full extent of the technical information collected by the website or its hosting infrastructure.
We therefore do not represent that every category listed above is collected, stored, or associated with an identifiable visitor in every instance.
Technical information, where collected, may be used to deliver website content, maintain functionality, diagnose technical problems, support security, and understand website performance to the extent supported by the technologies actually in use.
Subject to applicable law, The Ponce Project may use personal information for the following purposes:
4.1. Operating the Website
To provide website content, respond to requests, maintain website functionality, and support the administration of our online services.
4.2. Managing Competitions and Artistic Activities
To process competition applications, communicate with applicants, verify eligibility, organize judging, coordinate performances, administer awards, publish authorized results, and manage related activities.
4.3. Communicating with Participants and the Public
To respond to questions, provide information about events, communicate administrative updates, and address requests concerning our programs.
4.4. Promoting Music and Cultural Heritage
To document performances, preserve relevant historical and artistic materials, disseminate musical research, publish authorized recordings, and communicate information about our cultural mission.
4.5. Administering Donations
To process or reconcile contributions, maintain donation records, acknowledge gifts where appropriate, administer fundraising initiatives, and fulfill applicable financial obligations.
4.6. Maintaining Administrative and Financial Records
To maintain records necessary for organizational operations, accounting, reporting, and compliance with applicable legal requirements.
4.7. Protecting Our Organization and Website
To investigate suspected misuse, address technical problems, protect the integrity of our systems, and respond to lawful requests when necessary.
4.8. Complying with Legal Obligations
To comply with applicable laws, regulations, court orders, lawful government requests, and other legal obligations.
We will not use personal information for purposes materially incompatible with the purposes described in this Policy without an appropriate legal basis or any additional notice or consent required by applicable law.
The laws applicable to The Ponce Project depend on the circumstances, the individuals concerned, the nature of the information, and the activities involved.
Where a law requires a specific legal basis for processing personal information, we will rely on an applicable basis, which may include:
For example, information may be necessary to process a competition application, respond to a request, reconcile a donation, or comply with applicable financial recordkeeping requirements.
Where consent is required for a particular activity, such as certain uses of a minor’s image or certain forms of tracking, we will seek the appropriate consent before proceeding.
This Policy does not establish that a specific legal basis applies to every processing activity. The appropriate basis must be assessed in light of the actual activity and the law governing it.
We do not represent that personal information is never shared. Certain information may need to be disclosed to support our activities, fulfill a request, or comply with applicable law.
Depending on the circumstances, information may be shared with the following categories of recipients.
6.1. Authorized Personnel and Collaborators
Relevant information may be made available to authorized personnel, competition administrators, judges, event organizers, or other collaborators when reasonably necessary to perform their assigned responsibilities.
Access should be limited to information appropriate to the person’s role and the relevant activity.
6.2. Technical and Administrative Service Providers
If we use third-party providers to host the website, operate forms, send email, maintain records, process payments, or support other administrative functions, those providers may process personal information as necessary to provide their services.
The specific providers currently used for these purposes have not been independently verified for this Policy. We therefore do not identify any particular company as a confirmed provider.
The contractual arrangements, access permissions, and privacy obligations applicable to each provider depend on the actual service relationship.
6.3. Payment Providers and Financial Institutions
Donation and competition-related payment information may be disclosed to or processed by banks, payment providers, or financial institutions involved in a transaction.
The information exchanged depends on the payment method and the relevant provider’s procedures.
6.4. Event and Institutional Partners
When necessary for an event, concert, competition, educational activity, or artistic collaboration, relevant information may be shared with an authorized venue, event organizer, institutional partner, or other collaborator.
Any such sharing should be limited to information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose and subject to applicable legal requirements.
6.5. Publicly Available Competition Results and Artistic Materials
Competition results, participant names, performance information, photographs, and recordings may be published when appropriate for the administration, documentation, or promotion of an event and when the relevant legal requirements and permissions have been satisfied.
Public information may be accessible to audiences worldwide and may be copied, indexed, or redistributed by third parties beyond our direct control.
We do not claim that every participant’s information or every competition application is published.
6.6. Legal and Regulatory Disclosures
We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to a valid legal process, protect rights, investigate suspected unlawful conduct, or address a legitimate safety or security concern.
Where legally permitted and appropriate, we will limit such disclosures to the information relevant to the request or obligation.
6.7. Organizational Changes
If the organization undergoes a legally permissible restructuring, transfer of relevant operations, or similar organizational change, personal information may be transferred where necessary and permitted by applicable law.
Any such transfer would be subject to the legal requirements applicable to the circumstances.
The Ponce Project operates from Houston, Texas, and its activities may involve participants, donors, performers, audiences, and collaborators in different countries.
As a result, personal information may be accessed or processed in the United States or other countries, depending on the individuals involved, the services used, and the circumstances of the activity.
The actual locations of our website hosting, data storage, and third-party service providers have not been independently verified for this Policy.
Where applicable law imposes requirements on international data transfers, we will comply with the requirements applicable to the relevant transfer.
The privacy and data protection laws of another country may differ from those applicable in the United States.
Cookies are small files that websites may store on a visitor’s device. Websites may also use related technologies, such as local storage, tracking pixels, or similar mechanisms.
These technologies can support essential website functions, remember preferences, measure website usage, or support other purposes, depending on their implementation.
We have not independently verified whether the current version of the website uses analytics cookies, advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or other nonessential tracking technologies.
Accordingly, this Policy does not claim that any particular cookie, analytics platform, or advertising technology is currently installed.
If cookies or similar technologies are used, the information collected may depend on the technology and its configuration.
Depending on the circumstances, this may include device information, browser characteristics, website interactions, or identifiers used to distinguish visits.
You may be able to manage cookies through your browser settings. Blocking or deleting certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Browser controls do not necessarily prevent every form of data collection by websites or external services.
Where applicable law requires notice, consent, or an opt-out mechanism for particular technologies, the relevant mechanisms should be implemented in accordance with that law.
Our website may contain links to external websites, ticketing services, payment channels, institutional partners, social media platforms, or other third-party resources.
These external services may operate independently of The Ponce Project and may collect information directly from visitors.
Once you access an external service, its privacy policy, terms of use, and data-handling practices may apply.
We are not responsible for the independent privacy practices of third parties that we do not control.
The inclusion of a link does not constitute a guarantee regarding the privacy, security, availability, or practices of the linked service.
We encourage visitors to review the relevant third-party policies before submitting information or completing transactions.
The Ponce Project organizes musical and educational activities that may involve children and young people, including piano competition divisions for minors.
We recognize that children’s personal information requires particular care.
Depending on the activity, information relating to a minor may include the child’s name, age or date of birth, competition division, musical repertoire, performance recordings, contact details, and other information necessary to administer participation.
Where necessary, we may also need information about a parent or legal guardian.
10.1. Parental and Guardian Involvement
When an activity requires parental or guardian authorization under applicable law, we will seek the appropriate authorization before collecting or using the relevant information for that activity.
The appropriate process may depend on the child’s age, the information involved, the nature of the activity, and the applicable legal requirements.
This Policy does not claim that a particular parental consent mechanism is currently implemented in every competition or website form.
10.2. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act
The federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and its implementing regulations may apply to certain online collection of personal information from children under 13.
Where COPPA applies, applicable requirements concerning parental notice, verifiable parental consent, information security, retention, and parental rights must be followed.
The presence of a competition for young participants does not, by itself, establish that the website is directed to children under 13 or that every collection of information from a minor is subject to COPPA.
The applicability of COPPA must be assessed in light of the actual website, the relevant online activity, and the information collected.
10.3. Publication of Children’s Photographs and Performances
Photographs, recordings, competition results, or other identifiable information relating to minors will be handled with particular care.
Where required by law or the circumstances of the activity, appropriate parental or guardian authorization and any additional consent necessary for publication or promotional use must be obtained.
Permission to participate in a competition should not be treated as unrestricted permission to use a child’s image, voice, performance, or personal information for unrelated purposes.
10.4. Questions Concerning a Minor’s Information
A parent or legal guardian who believes that a child’s personal information has been collected or published inappropriately may contact us at contacto@theponceproject.org.
Please identify the relevant material or activity and explain the request. For safety reasons, do not send unnecessary copies of identity documents or other sensitive information through ordinary email.
We will review the request in light of applicable law, the circumstances of the activity, and any relevant legal or contractual obligations.
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to applicable legal requirements and legitimate administrative needs.
The appropriate retention period may vary depending on the type of information, the purpose of processing, and the circumstances in which it was obtained.
Examples include:
We have not independently verified formal retention schedules for each category of information. Accordingly, this Policy does not establish specific retention periods or claim that records are automatically deleted after a particular number of days or years.
Where information is no longer necessary and no legal or other permitted reason for retention remains, it should be deleted, anonymized, or otherwise handled in accordance with applicable law and the organization’s applicable procedures.
We recognize the importance of protecting personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, and misuse.
The measures appropriate for protecting information depend on the nature of the information, the systems involved, the risks presented, and the applicable legal requirements.
We do not claim that any particular encryption method, certification, security audit, backup system, access-control mechanism, or incident-response procedure is currently in place unless independently verified.
No method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure in every circumstance.
Visitors should take reasonable precautions when submitting information online and should avoid transmitting sensitive financial or identification information through general contact forms or ordinary email.
If a security incident occurs, we will address applicable notification and response obligations in accordance with the laws governing the incident.
The rights available to you depend on the laws applicable to your circumstances, your location, the type of information involved, and whether the relevant organization or processing activity is covered by the law in question.
Where applicable, your rights may include the following.
13.1. Right to Request Access
You may request information about personal information we maintain about you, subject to applicable law.
13.2. Right to Request Correction
You may request correction of personal information that is inaccurate or incomplete, subject to applicable law and any relevant recordkeeping requirements.
13.3. Right to Request Deletion
You may request deletion of personal information where applicable law provides that right.
Deletion may be subject to exceptions, including circumstances in which information must be retained to comply with legal obligations, complete a transaction, maintain required records, or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims.
13.4. Right to Obtain a Copy of Information
Where applicable law provides a right to data portability or access to a copy of personal information, you may request the information in the form required by that law.
13.5. Right to Withdraw Consent
Where we rely on your consent for a particular processing activity, you may withdraw that consent as permitted by applicable law.
Withdrawal does not necessarily affect processing lawfully performed before withdrawal or processing supported by another applicable legal basis.
13.6. Right to Opt Out of Certain Processing
Certain privacy laws provide rights to opt out of particular activities, such as targeted advertising, certain sales of personal data, or certain forms of profiling.
We have not independently verified that The Ponce Project engages in any of those activities. This Policy therefore does not represent that such activities occur.
Where an applicable law grants you a relevant opt-out right and the activity is covered by that law, the appropriate mechanism will be made available as required.
13.7. Right to Appeal or Complain
Where applicable law provides a right to appeal a privacy-related decision or submit a complaint to a regulatory authority, you may exercise that right in accordance with the relevant legal requirements.
13.8. Exercising Your Rights
To submit a privacy request, contact us at:
Email: contacto@theponceproject.org
Please describe the request and provide enough information for us to understand its scope.
We may need to verify your identity or authority to act on behalf of another individual before responding. Any verification process should be proportionate to the request and comply with applicable law.
If you are requesting information concerning a minor, we may need to verify your identity and your authority to act as the child’s parent or legal guardian.
We will review and respond to requests within the time limits required by applicable law.
Some requests may be subject to legal exceptions, and we may need to retain certain information where required or permitted by law.
We will not unlawfully discriminate against individuals for exercising privacy rights protected by applicable law.
The Ponce Project is associated with an organization based in Texas. Depending on the circumstances, its activities may be subject to applicable federal laws concerning privacy, information security, financial transactions, children’s information, electronic communications, and related matters.
Potentially relevant federal laws include the following.
14.1. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
COPPA may regulate the online collection of personal information from children under 13 by covered website operators and online services.
Where applicable, it imposes requirements concerning notice, parental consent, parental rights, and the handling of children’s information.
14.2. CAN-SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act regulates certain commercial email messages.
If our activities include sending commercial email subject to this law, applicable requirements concerning sender identification, required disclosures, and opt-out requests must be followed.
Not every organizational, educational, fundraising, or informational email necessarily falls within the same legal category. Applicability depends on the content and circumstances of the communication.
14.3. Federal Trade Commission Act
Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices within its scope.
Privacy representations, disclosures, and practices may be subject to this prohibition where applicable.
14.4. Other Applicable Federal Requirements
Other federal requirements may apply depending on the transaction, the information involved, and the organization’s activities.
This Policy does not represent that every federal privacy statute applies to The Ponce Project. Applicability must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), codified in the Texas Business and Commerce Code, establishes privacy rights and obligations for covered entities and processing activities.
The Act generally applies subject to its definitions, exemptions, and applicability requirements. Relevant factors may include the type of entity, the nature of the processing, and statutory thresholds.
The fact that an organization operates in Texas does not, by itself, establish that every provision of the TDPSA applies to that organization.
Where the TDPSA applies to our activities, we will comply with its applicable requirements.
Depending on the circumstances, those requirements may concern:
The TDPSA also contains exceptions and limitations that may affect whether particular data or processing activities are covered.
We have not independently verified whether Ponce Project Music Foundation meets every statutory criterion for coverage under the TDPSA. This Policy therefore does not assert that the organization is definitively subject to every provision of the Act.
Where the Act applies, individuals may exercise the rights provided by the Act using the contact information in this Policy, subject to the applicable requirements and exceptions.
Individuals who access our website or participate in our activities from other jurisdictions may be protected by additional privacy laws.
Depending on the circumstances, laws in other U.S. states or countries may apply to particular processing activities.
For example, certain state privacy laws establish consumer rights or impose obligations on covered businesses, while the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) may apply to organizations or processing activities that fall within its territorial scope.
The applicability of any such law depends on its specific legal requirements.
We do not represent that The Ponce Project is subject to every U.S. state privacy statute or that the GDPR applies to all international visitors.
Where a particular law applies, the relevant processing activities and privacy rights will be governed by that law.
Some browsers and devices provide settings or signals intended to communicate a user’s privacy preferences.
The technical meaning and legal treatment of these signals may vary.
We have not independently verified whether the current website recognizes or responds to every browser-based privacy signal.
Where applicable law requires recognition of a particular opt-out preference signal, we will implement the required response for covered processing activities in accordance with that law.
Visitors should not assume that changing a browser setting automatically disables every form of tracking or information collection by the website or third-party services.
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our activities, website functionality, service providers, legal obligations, or privacy practices.
When we update the Policy, we will revise the effective date displayed at the beginning of the document.
Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent before implementing changes that require it.
We encourage visitors to review this Policy periodically to remain informed about how personal information may be handled.
The version published on our official website is intended to reflect the Policy currently in effect.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to submit a privacy request, or have concerns about the handling of personal information, please contact us.
Ponce Project Music Foundation / The Ponce Project
Email: contacto@theponceproject.org
Website: https://theponceproject.org/
Location: Houston, Texas, United States.
Please use the subject line “Privacy Request” when submitting a privacy-related inquiry.
We will review your request and respond in accordance with applicable law and the circumstances of the request.