Collaborations

 
The Ensemble seeks to connect and inform all people who are committed to ensemble music education for youth empowerment and social change.

From Accommodation to Co-Creation: How Students Continue to Transform Our Approach to Adaptive Music Education

11-05-2025

When Lotus Centre for Special Music Education opened its doors in Ottawa, Canada in 2012, we thought our mission was clear: provide access to high-quality music instruction for students with exceptionalities and disabilities who were being left out of traditional lessons. What we didn’t yet realize was that our students were about to become our greatest teachers, shifting our organization from a provider of services to a learning community shaped directly by their needs and strengths.

“Giftedness Is Just Access in Disguise”: Lessons in Flourishing Together

11-05-2025

The summer of 2025 brought a harsh financial reality. Like so many nonprofits in the United States this year, we lost more than 50% in foundation funding—money we’d counted on to hire adult teachers for our summer programming. We couldn’t bring in the experienced instructors who had anchored our summer camps in previous years.

This loss created an unexpected void that my teaching team and I didn’t know how to fill. To our surprise, our Urban Fellows and Junior Fellows—a group of our older and emerging student leaders—stepped up to fill the void.

Along Italian Coast, a Climate-Conscious Program Turns “Rubbish Into Music”

11-05-2025

In the city where LiberaMusica operates—Pesaro, Italy, right on the Mediterranean coast—the connection with nature is strong and part of everyday life. From the Apennine Mountains to the coastline, children grow up surrounded by an environment that is rich, fragile, and, today more than ever, in need of protection. In recent years, our region has been marked by extreme events: floods, droughts, and changing seasons are reshaping our landscape. Schools and associations have been working hard to raise ecological awareness, and LiberaMusica wanted to contribute by doing what we know best: making music.

Africa-Europe Cultural Exchange Grants

11-05-2025

The Goethe Institut, in partnership with Expertise France and Institut Français, invites proposals for two different grants supporting artistic and cultural exchange projects between African and European artists.

Chiquinha Gonzaga Orchestra: Building a Culture of Peace Through Music

11-05-2025

The Brazilian Institute of Music and Education (IBME – Instituto Brasileiro de Música e Educação) was launched in 2011 with just 15 students. Today, it serves more than 4,000 young people and continues to grow. Among its many talented ensembles, one stands out: the Orquestra Sinfônica Juvenil Chiquinha Gonzaga, an all-female youth orchestra that celebrates the intersection of Brazilian classical and popular music.

Calling All U.S. Artist-Activists

11-05-2025

We’ve seen throughout history how the arts can speak louder than words, particularly in places where civil rights are under attack.

Asian Cultural Council Grants

11-05-2025

Applications are now open through November 19 for the Asian Cultural Council’s 2026 Fellowships and Grants, supporting cultural exchange activities for arts professionals and organizations in Asia and the United States.

A Project in Cyprus and Portugal Bridges Passion and Profession

10-01-2025

What does it take to turn a young musician’s passion into a meaningful career? For Sistema Cyprus and Orquestra Geração, the answer lies in real, structured opportunity, tailored to young people who are too often overlooked by traditional systems.

Our two organizations have long collaborated on other successful European projects. Building on that experience, and seeing the similar challenges our students face, we teamed up once more to create the Erasmus+ project “InMus: From Youth to Professionalism.”

Two New Books on Music Therapy and Displaced People

10-01-2025

Two new books examine the use of music therapy with people who have experienced forced displacement, highlighting the importance of historical and contextual knowledge of how music can both help and harm people.

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