Palaver Strings is a Grammy-nominated, musician-led string ensemble and nonprofit organization based in Portland, ME. The ensemble performs at nationally renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, and Newport Classical, commissions new works, and teaches courses and masterclasses at university residencies across the country. Palaver is passionate about music’s role in the broader community, engaging new audiences and amplifying underrepresented voices through their performances and education programs. The Palaver Strings collective of musicians plays in many formats—a quartet of their members will join us for this residency.

Seraph Brass was founded by trumpet soloist Mary Elizabeth Bowden with a mission to showcase the excellence of women brass players and highlight musicians from marginalized groups. Seraph Brass is passionate about music education, from performing in schools and honing brass students’ technique to leading career development workshops for young musicians. 

Hailed by The Strad for playing with “tremendous heart and beauty,” the Ivalas Quartet has been changing the face of classical music since its inception in 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. The quartet’s members are dedicated to their roles as educators; Ivalas Quartet has nurtured students from the early stages of their musical journey to the collegiate level. 

Musicians studying at the prestigious New England Conservatory perform a wide range of repertoire, teaching students lessons about history, teamwork, and dedication along the way. Their in-school performances expose students to truly incredible chamber music. Workshops and masterclasses hone older students’ skills and professional ambitions. 

The award-winning, globally-touring Arcis Saxophone Quartet hails from Munich, Germany. The quartet approaches their musical work with experimentation, artistry and curiosity, commissioning new works and inventing new concert formats. The quartet prioritizes education and inspires the musicians and audiences of tomorrow through ensemble workshops, masterclasses, and school visits. 

Founded in 1972, the Tony Award-winning The Acting Company is the only professional theater dedicated to the development of young actors. Through its national touring repertories of classic and new plays, the Company has given two generations of recent drama school graduates the opportunity to hone their craft in challenging roles while bringing sophisticated theater to hundreds of communities from coast to coast.  

This dynamic storyteller breathes life into traditional and contemporary tales from African and African-American traditions, weaving in music performed on traditional African instruments. Meticulously researched and told with flair, Alston’s performances transport young people to other cultures and times and provide unforgettable lessons in history. With older students, Alston’s workshops explore elements of storytelling, imparting valuable insights into her craft. 

Step Afrika! blends percussive dance styles practiced by historically African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances, and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Educational workshops with young dancers emphasize teamwork and cross-cultural understanding. 

BalletX, Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet, unites artistic innovation with technical excellence to forge new works of athleticism, emotion, and grace. BalletX dancers have been hailed as “among America’s best” (The New York Times) and “art in motion” (The Philadelphia Inquirer). Through performances, international touring, and meaningful community outreach, BalletX creates extraordinary dance experiences that inspire human connection. 

A “Classically American” dance company, Dance Theatre of Harlem has grown into a multi-cultural dance institution with an extraordinary legacy of creative expression and artistic excellence. Since the company’s founding in 1969, Dance Theatre of Harlem has achieved unprecedented success, bringing innovative and bold new forms of artistic expression to audiences in New York City, across the country, and around the world. Through performances, community engagement, and education, Dance Theatre of Harlem carries forward their message of empowerment for all through the arts. 

Founded in 2011 by Artistic Director and 2015 MacArthur Fellow Michelle Dorrance, Dorrance Dance showcases the incredibly dynamic range that tap dance has to offer, emphasizing improvisation and innovation as well as the genre’s uniquely American history. Educating the next generation of dance students is a vital part of Dorrance Dance’s vision, and the company brings tap dance to students of all levels through their education programs in schools and communities.