Organizational Development

 
El Ensemble busca conectar e informar a todas las personas que están comprometidas con la educación musical de conjunto para el empoderamiento de los jóvenes y el cambio social.

U.S. Programs Are Approaching ‘The Middle’ of Their Movement. Now What?

07-08-2026

There are seasons in any movement. The beginning, that electric moment when a new idea catches fire, is unforgettable. So is the end, when a movement gains a permanent foothold in society. But the middle—the developing stage—is different. The middle is where the path is no longer clear, where the just cause and the strategies for seeing it through are both tested. It’s my impression that, in many places of the world, El Sistema-inspired programs find themselves in that adolescent stage.

These growing years are critical to our future as a movement—just as the adolescent years are critical to our students’ growth. Here are a few discoveries being made by U.S. programs I’m familiar with, shared with the hope that they resonate with programs around the world.

Advice on Hiring a First Fundraiser

05-06-2026

If you are going to hire a staff member as your first dedicated fundraiser, Patrick Slevin (Executive Director of Austin Soundwaves) offers advice based on his personal experience.

EDITORIAL
Playing in the Same Key: Aligning Purpose and Practice for Students

03-04-2026

“What’s the biggest thing keeping you up at night, as a leader or as a teaching artist?”

When Nikoletta Polydorou, founder of Sistema Cyprus, recently posed this question to music-for-social-action leaders and teaching artists across different countries and contexts, one concern surfaced repeatedly: when a program’s purpose isn’t clear, and collectively owned, the learning is less focused and effective.

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