North America

El Sistema USA is launching Summer Now!, a new grant initiative for accelerated learning in summer programming.

“Social Music as a Prescription for Maintaining Wellness” is an article by renowned U.S. jazz musician Jon Batiste and Joanne Loewy, Director of the Department of Music Therapy and Professor at New York City’s Icahn School of Medicine.

Check out the free newsletter published by the cultural mobility organization On the Move—it includes global news, open calls for presenting and other opportunities, residencies, competitions, training, fellowships, jobs, and resources.

A new report from The Wallace Foundation, “Creative Expression, Caring Relationships, and Career Pathways: A Guide to Youth Outcomes in Community Arts Programs,” identifies the long-term benefits of these programs.

Many of us were absorbed in watching the extraordinary performances at the Winter Olympics in Italy.

On March 21, Luxembourg City celebrated Bach’s 341st birthday with the 16th year of Bach in the Subways—52 free performances of his music in 21 venues, including arts venues, shops, restaurants, and bookstores.

For those interested in theoretical perspectives on music education, a new research report proposes that complexity thinking is changing approaches to music education.

When you walk down the halls of OrKidstra, you’ll hear the universal language of music around every corner. Laughter as the kids rush to the snack table during their break. And you’ll hear something distinctly Canadian: the beautiful sounds of a community composed of 62 different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. A community of belonging.

Last week, I found myself in Union City, New Jersey, USA, sitting in a sea of students, violin in hand, playing “Swan Lake” alongside kids, teachers, and my longtime colleague Melina Garcia. I hadn’t come to visit Melina and her program, the United Children’s Music Project simply for the joy of playing with young people; I was there to deliver a donation. I had just closed a similar program in Pisco, Peru—Notes for Change, Inc.—that I founded 15 years ago, and my donation for UCMP consisted of the final funds from that program. I had expected this to be a bittersweet moment; instead, it felt like a full-circle one. But more about that later.

A $1 million donation from the Peter Compo and Carol Larson Gift Fund will support 15 El Sistema USA member organizations in delivering summer youth programs as part of ESUSA’s Summer Now! initiative.