Sistema Lombardia

Imagine choosing—on purpose—to stop. To give yourself a moment of attention and ask, without judgment, a simple question: “Why do I do this work?” It’s a small exercise of meditation and self-awareness that we rarely find time for in our noisy daily routine. And yet, in that brief pause, something can appear: a spark that feeds the question, gives it space, and makes it louder.

For me, Fire Up! 2025 in Athens—a four-day teaching artist residency led by the Academy for Impact through Music (AIM)—was that spark. 

The SONG program in Milan, Italy (with its expressive acronym, designating Sistema Orchestre e cori / Nuclei Giovanili e infantile) began in 2011, and focuses on welcoming children with special needs into its core aims of integration through ensemble music education.