Chiarina is committed to inspiring DC students, teachers, and families through high-quality musical programs. Through our strong, ongoing partnerships with neighborhood schools and our collaborations with accomplished guest artists, we strive to create meaningful learning experiences for the youngest audiences in our community. In addition, we offer free admission to students aged 18 and under for any of our concerts.
We firmly believe that live performances by outstanding musicians can be transformative for students. We believe that it is vital not only to offer artistic inspiration to students, but also to provide opportunities for them to engage with diverse groups of successful professional musicians, enabling them to envision future pathways in the arts. We work with DC public school teachers and with our guest artists to develop relevant, engaging programming that integrates with the curriculum.
We are delighted to partner with the groundbreaking Imani Winds, known for their innovative educational initiatives, to present workshops at two neighborhood public secondary schools in December of 2024.
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In 2024, Chiarina artistic directors Efi Hackmey (piano) and Carrie Bean Stute (cello) were joined by soprano Melissa Wimbish, violinist Meredith Riley, and violist Celia Hatton to present our family concert program “Harlem’s Little Blackbird” at three DC public schools: Brent Elementary, Maury Elementary, and Payne Elementary.
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In the fall of 2022, Chiarina was thrilled to present the Grammy-winning Attacca Quartet at three DC public schools: Stuart-Hobson Middle School, Eliot-Hine Middle School, and Eastern High School. This visit was funded through the Capitol Hill Community Foundation’s inaugural John Franzén Award for the Arts.
Learn MoreDesigned for children aged 5 and up — as well as adults! — our family concerts offer an engaging introduction to different instruments and genres while demonstrating the power of music to tell stories.
In the spring of 2025, Chiarina will invite fourth and fifth graders from three neighborhood schools to experience a live performance of Saint-Saëns’s Carnival of the Animals.
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Our first family concert, “Harlem’s Little Blackbird,” brought to life the story of Jazz Age singer Florence Mills and her fight for equality. This engaging program, highlighted as a Black History Month recommendation by the Washington Post, was based on the children’s book by Renée Watson and featured music by Scott Joplin, H.T. Burleigh, Duke Ellington, and others.
Learn MoreChiarina is grateful to the Capitol Hill Community Foundation and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for their generous support of our educational initiatives.