UMass Music and Dance Speaker Series on Music, Social Change Continues in February

Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez
Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez

This month, the UMass Amherst department of music and dance will continue its ongoing series of lectures designed to explore how artists and educators are seeking to effect social change through music. The series, titled “Music, Community Engagement & Social Action,” was launched last fall through the efforts of the department’s faculty led by violin professor Elizabeth Chang.

The free talks will take place online via Zoom (pre-registration required, visit umass.edu/music/events to register) and YouTube Live on select Wednesdays beginning at 7 p.m. Each presentation will last approximately one hour, and will include time for Q & A. The events are co-sponsored by the UMass Fine Arts Center. The February talks will include:

  • Feb. 10 - Marielisa and Mariesther Alvarez, founders of Boston String Academy, will speak about their work in creating a vibrant string orchestra program for inner-city young students. Boston String Academy is a non-profit organization inspired by El Sistema, the National System of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela. The program offers many performance opportunities, ensembles, master classes, and lessons which enable students to build self-confidence, discipline, social skills, and other values that are essential to every child’s development.
  • Feb. 17 - Administrators from Boston’s musiConnects programwill speak about their organization's efforts to model and teach self-expression, peer leadership, and community development through the power of chamber music. The speakers will include Nancy Galluzzo (executive director), David Rubin (program director), and Joshua Addison (director of artistic planning).
  • Feb. 24 - Founder Vicki Citron will speak about Musica Franklin, an El Sistema-inspired free afterschool music program in Franklin County with a mission of preparing students for a brighter future through music. Now in its sixth year, Musica Franklin has grown from 12 students and two staff members to 50-75 students per year and seven staff members.