Fidelity Investments, the Boston Pops and Community Music Center of Boston (CMCB) this week unveiled a new music education initiative designed to support and strengthen music programs in local Boston schools. Fidelity FutureStage will provide unique opportunities for underserved student musicians to explore and develop their individual talents.
To celebrate the program kickoff, conductor Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops performed for an assembly of 200 students at Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in Charlestown.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Fidelity and be part of the new Fidelity FutureStage program,” said Keith Lockhart. “At a time when so many school music programs are cutting funding and other support, it’s a pleasure to be able to strengthen struggling programs and enable more students develop their musical interests.”
The Pops performance ended with a surprise, when the students were given 47 new instruments, including new acoustic and electric guitars, trumpets, bass drums, snare drums, electric keyboards, a xylophone and a glockenspiel, valued at more than $25,000.
To identify the instrument needs of the school music program, Fidelity worked with The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying underserved schools and bringing musical instruments to programs most in need.
“These new instruments play a significant role in the Fidelity FutureStage program, giving more students access to the resources they need to develop their musical interests and talents,” said Jennifer Brown, executive vice president, Fidelity Investments. “Learning to play an instrument and experiencing music in new and creative ways can help young musicians build valuable skills that will serve them well, not just performing onstage, but throughout future stages of life.”
Edwards Middle School is one of three schools participating in the program, along with John W. McCormack Middle School in Dorchester and Josiah Quincy Upper School in South Boston. All of the schools boast passionate, committed music educators.
In an effort to provide meaningful, authentic experiences and instruction, professional musicians will dedicate their time in the classrooms of the schools for the duration of the school year. And on select dates during the spring semester, Boston Pops musicians will visit the schools as special guests, interacting with the students in workshops focused on individual disciplines. The program will also coordinate field trips for students to attend rehearsals and concerts at Symphony Hall - for many, their first professional performance.
