Access to Music

Our Access to Music program offers arts events such as free live concerts, music apprecation classes, open rehearsals, and interactive workshops to underserved communities and audiences who because of illness, age, lack of exposure, or economic means, are not capable of attending, or choose not to attend such events in traditional settings. Concerts are performed by our resident chamber music group, the Phoenix Ensemble.

We reach a large cross-section of people with our work, from all five boroughs of New York City, representing a wide range of ages and backgrounds. The choice of repertoire and the atmosphere we create for our projects differ greatly depending on the target audience, resulting in formal concerts, relaxed informal performances involving casual dress for both audience and musicians, or events involving enhanced audience interaction and participation. Our musicians connect with their audiences by talking to them during the performance and meeting them afterwards to answer questions, share thoughts about the concert, or just engage in casual conversation. When performing on a regular basis at the same venue or facility, our performers often develop friendships with concert-goers, becoming ambassadors for the arts, and valuable members of their community. These interactions are crucial to making the arts accessible to a new audience. Our intention is to break the traditional barrier that exists between the stage and the public, to create an enlightened and enjoyable atmosphere, giving an alternative experience to those who might find more traditional concerts undesirable or intimidating, and to provide enriching musical events to those that simply cannot experience them as traditionally offered.

Community Residencies & Partnerships

Our residencies and partnerships give our musicians an opportunity to make a true lasting impression on our audiences, and can run several weeks or a period of years. In establishing these long-term collaborations, we identify facilities that serve a diverse membership and surrounding community, that are in need of a creative presence. We then design short term and long range goals tailored to the specific needs of the venue. Residency activities include a free concert series presented by our Phoenix Ensemble, along with a mix of other events, such as music appreciation classes, open rehearsals, pre and post concert lectures, private and group lessons, and chamber music workshops. A calendar of events for each of our residency venues is maintained on our website for all of our participating audiences.

Over a period of time, the communities and venues we work with take ownership of our musicians, and for the term of the partnership, we become the creative staff, and a vital component of the facility. For a community in need of quality arts programming, establishing a lasting relationship with a group of artists is invaluable. It creates a window into the creative process, and humanizes and demystifies the arts as a whole. Very often our work inspires our residency audiences to visit Lincoln Center for the first time to see a performance of the Metropolitan Opera or New York Philharmonic. Interacting with our musicians through these partnerships, our audiences acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of the arts, and become more comfortable in making the arts an important part of their lives.

Music for the Elderly Series

Our Access to Music program continues to bring free classical music performances to the elderly at senior centers, nursing homes, and senior care facilities in New York City, through our Music for the Elderly Series. We provide enriching arts experiences where previously none were offered, and in many cases our musicians help seniors maintain the quality of life they were used to when they lived more independently, as well as provide a therapeutic relief to those who are undergoing a difficult period in their lives. There is a continuing need for this work, and as the baby-boomer generation retires, and the senior population grows in the coming years, this need will only become more significant.