El Sistema Residency

Connecting Communities Through Music (April 5-7, 2025)

PROJECT MUSIC and King School are excited to collaborate on the tenth annual El Sistema Residency, bringing together talented young musicians from King's Middle and Upper Schools and visiting students from various El Sistema USA programs.

This residency is designed to foster meaningful connections between communities from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, using music as a powerful tool to amplify cultural identities and shared experiences. Through this immersive experience, we aim to:

  • Understand music as a reflection of culture and an expression of identity

  • Give voice to and amplify perspectives from diverse lived experiences

  • Use music to inspire connections beyond our differences

  • Explore new ways to create and share music

  • Blend musical styles and cultures into innovative compositions and performances

Collective Composition

A highlight of the residency is Collective Composition, led by Dan Trahey, Director of the Archipelago Project and Collective Conservatory. Students will engage in a collaborative composition process, integrating various musical styles and themes to create original works. This initiative reinforces the idea that music composition is an inclusive and accessible art form.

Featuring New Composers & Compositions

A primary focus of the residency is featuring new music from composers of today. This allows the students to connect how music is a living, breathing art form. We will be featuring music from Marie Douglas, Soon Hee NewBold, and Pete Francis. All of these composers are active in the field today and students will have the opportunity to interact with the composers over virtual master-classes. 

Community Concert

Join us on Sunday, April 6, at 4:30 p.m. for a special community concert at the Performing Arts Center from King School, Stamford, CT. This performance will showcase the creativity and collaboration of young musicians, featuring original compositions and a diverse repertoire that celebrates the power of music to connect and inspire. Admission is free, with donations appreciated.

Participating Programs

Guest Artists

Pete Francis (Singer-Songwriter, Founding Member of Dispatch)

A New England native, Francis first came to fame in the late 90’s as a founding member of alternative roots powerhouse Dispatch, whose remarkable rise from Middlebury College to Madison Square Garden helped rewrite the rulebooks for modern indie bands. It was the sheer joy of the band’s legendary early performances that helped the band’s fan base swell online.  Dispatched has sold over 700,000 albums and has performed to sold out audiences at Madison Square Garden and Boston’s TD Garden. As a solo artist, Pete has released 17 albums.

In addition to his work as a musician, Francis has also taught songwriting at Middlebury College and collaborated with his wife, the visual artist Katie Heimbold, to launch the Dragoncrest Collective, a community organization that seeks to bring artists and art-lovers together through a series of live, interactive shows and events.

Dan Trahey: Director Of Archipelago Project and Collective Conservatory

Dan Trahey is a musician, educator, and innovator. He was instrumental in the creation of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids, where he currently serves as Artistic Liaison. Dan also founded the El Sistema-inspired program Tuned In at the Peabody Conservatory, where he teaches creative composition and community engagement. As a tuba player with the Archipelago Project, he travels the world promoting cross-genre performances and has performed for hundreds of thousands of children, specifically targeting impoverished areas with little access to live performance. He has held orchestral positions in Mexico and the United States. Trahey is part of the composition troupe Creative Connections that works to bring communities together through collective and creative composition. Dan has been featured in countless publications including 60 Minutes, PBS, NPR, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. He recently gave a TED talk at TEDx Baltimore, and was named the “Most Valuable Player in the Arts” by Baltimore Magazine.

About El Sistema

Founded in Venezuela by José Antonio Abreu, El Sistema is a globally recognized music education philosophy that uses ensemble-based learning to foster social change and empower young musicians. By providing access to high-quality music instruction, particularly for underserved communities, El Sistema emphasizes discipline, teamwork, and artistic excellence as tools for personal and collective transformation.

In the United States, El Sistema-inspired programs have adapted this philosophy to serve diverse communities, creating inclusive spaces where young musicians can develop their skills while embracing their cultural identities. Many of these programs, including PROJECT MUSIC, are part of El Sistema USA (ESUSA), a national network dedicated to supporting and strengthening this movement. Through music, these programs cultivate leadership, creativity, and social connection, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive through the power of music.