Conference 2026: Community Impact Through Mission-Aligned Partnerships

Speaker(s): Catherine Beeson, Assistant Principal Viola, Colorado Symphony; Richard Scerbo, Director, National Orchestral Institute and Festival; Rachel Schultz, Chief Operating Officer, Hawaii Youth Symphony Association; Kelly Waltrip, Managing Director, The Gilmore Piano Festival, Former Executive Director, Denver Young Artists Orchestra/Managing Director – Alliance with the Colorado Symphony; and Randy Wong, President and CEO, Hawaii Youth Symphony Association

Learn about two orchestra case studies illustrating the journey from having only occasional touchpoints with students to developing a sustained youth pathway program by partnering with other organizations in the community. Through mentorship, intergenerational outreach, performance opportunities, workforce development, and deep, mutual commitments to a shared goal—access to music education—strategic alliances can bridge missions, work towards shared outcomes, and sustain trust. The result: expanded opportunities for students and families and lasting community impact across all organizations involved.

Participants will come away from the session with the ability to:

• Identify concrete criteria for mission-aligned partnerships and assess current or prospective partners.
• Apply practices that sustain collaborations over time, including shared outcomes, feedback loops, and clear decision making
• Engage teaching artists and professional musicians meaningfully in all aspects of partnership

This session is made possible by generous grants from The Clinton Family Fund and The Julian Family Foundation.

Photo Credit: Amy Raab Photography