International Collaboration

After months of work behind the scenes and four days together in Dundee, Scotland, a 95-musician orchestra made up of Big Noise and YOLA musicians—plus 100 younger Big Noise members forming a choir—came together on stage at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall for the Festival’s Family Concert on August 16, 2026.

It was a beautiful moment. But even before they ever shared the stage, the young musicians from Scotland and Los Angeles had achieved something remarkable.

The European Union’s Creative Europe program is welcoming applications for two mobility grants.

On the Move is launching a campaign for A United Nations Plan of Action for the Safety of Artists and Cultural Practitioners, hosting two information sessions to kick things off.

The University of Navarra (Madrid, Spain), with co-organizer Boston College, is gathering artists, scholars, psychotherapists, and practitioners from around the world for the 2027 Art & Character Conference (June 3–5, 2027).

About 15 years ago, when I was on tour in Africa, I was lucky enough to meet the late Bob Collymore, Founder/CEO of Safaricom Kenya and one of the most inspiring people on the planet. I performed at the Safaricom headquarters for all the employees; Bob was immediately enthusiastic about bringing more jazz to Nairobi, and he decided to launch the Safaricom International Jazz Festival. He organized the festival setup, and I helped him with the programming.

If I could offer a travel tip to anyone lucky enough to visit another city or country, it would be this: reach out to a local El Sistema-inspired program, or a similar music for social change program, and visit it! Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of visiting such programs across five continents, learning from colleagues who share a common mission while working in vastly different contexts.

During my spring break this year, a trip to the beautiful country of Hungary led me to connect with the wonderful team at Superar Budapest. What began as a simple visit quickly turned into something much more.

Musical exchange programs between the U.S. and Venezuela have recently hit an impasse with new travel restrictions between the two countries.

From January 7–February 6, 2026, Side by Side will accept applications for their international music camp in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The European Network for Opera, Music and Dance Education (RESEO) will host a free webinar on November 17 with specific guidance for arts education organizations looking to apply to major European funding programs.

Teaching artistry is the sleeping giant of social change. 

And that giant is waking up. At least that’s what I claim, in my relentless advocacy for the global field.