This Catalyst Guide from the League of American Orchestras outlines how member orchestras are taking steps to center youth creativity, empower their voices, and create career pathways. Explore the Guide to gain insights on engaging younger, more diverse audiences, and learn from successful case studies that showcase what’s possible when we embrace the energy and ideas of the next generation.
What a wonderful opportunity to learn from each other. In this guide, you will find a wide spectrum of programming, ways of interacting authentically with youth, and words of hope and gratitude from young people who are finding ways to express themselves freely and find belonging in safe and creative spaces. The concert hall is …
In this section: Empowering Youth by Fostering Growth and Inclusion Youth, professional, and community orchestras all have the ability to foster young people’s growth as artists and leaders, in ways that promote ownership of the artform and an authentic sense of belonging. By building trust, respect, and collaboration through music, orchestras help create inclusive communities …
There are three key reasons why youth engagement is central to the future of orchestras.
In this section: Fostering Inclusion, Student-Centered Teaching, and Teaching Artists
In this section: Empowering Youth Voices, Creative Youth Development, and Youth Councils
Programs that center youth creativity and build youth agency can help students cope in healthy ways and flourish despite their challenges.
In this section: Creating Pathways to Conservatory and Leadership Training
Gaining the trust of local young people, learning about their needs, and responding to their interests with relevant programmatic offerings is work that is often best achieved in partnership with schools and other youth-serving organizations.
When it comes to youth engagement as a form of inclusion, signs of success are often subjective.