Benefit Concert Sponsorship

Advertising deadline May 3

We invite you to join us by supporting our Neighborhood Strings Benefit Concert on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 7:00 PM, at Mechanics Hall. The evening will include a performance by Neighborhood Strings and a cash bar with a dessert buffet. The main event is a Worcester Chamber Music Society concert and special guests performing a world premiere by Grammy-nominated Syrian-American composer Kareem Roustom.

Neighborhood Strings is an award-winning intensive strings program providing free lessons, ensembles, and performance opportunities to underserved youth from Worcester’s Downtown and Main South neighborhoods. Youth discover a creative outlet that hones life skills like discipline, cooperation, imagination, and leadership. The focus is on the child as a musician and as a citizen and contributing member of society.

Music education is no longer part of the Worcester Public Schools curriculum. As a result, inner-city children are deprived of the creative outlet, and academic benefits music instruction provides. Neighborhood Strings fills this gap by offering high-level intensive education, 5 days a week, by esteemed world-class musicians.

Sixty percent of the Worcester Public School population is economically disadvantaged. Eighty percent are classified as High Needs, and 33% are English Language Learners. The enthusiastic participation of these inner-city youth and their families is why this program has grown ten-fold over the last 12 years. With music as our connection point, we believe in weaving together a strong fabric of community that safeguards youth and generates sustainable community transformation.

Your support will help our students navigate their way in these challenging times and sustain our program for many years to come. Thank you for your consideration!