School Programs
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.
Fourth Annual Family Concert: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
In May 2026, Chiarina presented Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, a program for families and school audiences based on the children’s book by Anna Harwell Celenza with illustrations by JoAnn Kitchel. Dr. Celenza joined us to narrate the programs at St. Mark’s and at Brent and Van Ness Elementary Schools.
One student wrote: “You were awesome! You blew my mind how fast you can move your fingers.” Another wrote: “You made me feel like I was in the stories because of the music.”
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Chiarina Presents Catalyst Quartet at DC Schools
In December 2025, Chiarina brought the acclaimed Catalyst Quartet to perform for students at two DCPS middle schools, Eliot-Hine and Stuart-Hobson. The quartet performed a diverse set of musical selections and engaged in discussion with the students about careers in music, collaboration within a group, how music can portray images and ideas, the experience of working with living composers, the technical demands of their instruments, and more.
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Imani Winds Inspire DC Students
We were 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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Carnival of the Animals: School and Family Performances
In May 2025, Chiarina performed Saint-Saëns’s imaginative work Carnival of the Animals for DCPS 3rd through 5th graders from Brent, Maury, and Van Ness Elementary Schools. We also performed this program for DC families. Narration and projected images helped audiences learn about how the contrasting sounds of eleven instruments are used to portray the lion, elephant, swan, and more.
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Harlem’s Little Blackbird
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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School Visits: Attacca and Aizuri Quartets
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.
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