Orchestrating Diversity is a social change through orchestral music
program serving the youth of the Greater St. Louis Area. Focusing
specifically on the under-served population, Orchestrating Diversity has
established success in transforming the lives of these young people
through self- empowerment, effective social interactions and the
development of life skills through the pursuit of orchestral performance.
Our program, beginning in early childhood, is free-of-charge and offers
orchestral music training to combat poverty, strengthen inner-city
education, and foster positive decision-making to unlock the world.
Orchestrating Diversity is deeply inspired by the El Sistema educational
model.
Orchestrating Diversity currently serves youth in three locations in the
city of St. Louis. The Junior Urban Music Program (JUMP) is offered in
partnership with the Pilgrim Congregational United Church of Christ in
midtown and serves beginning students through the intermediate stages
of their musical development. These students perform specially arranged
parts with the Urban Youth Orchestra (UYO) of Orchestrating Diversity.
Upon demonstrated ability to sight-read, the students become full
members of UYO which meets at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center in
south city. The Keyboard Education for Young Students (KEYS) program
meets on the campus of Washington University. The program is provided
in three sessions, the two semesters of after school classes and the
Summer Intensive Camp.