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Sonido Mpasica program showcases students; partnership reaches 30+ schools and 1,000 weekly participants, presenters say
Summary
Springfield Community Music School and partners highlighted Sonido Musica's growth, saying the program now works in more than 30 schools and serves about 1,000 young people weekly; speakers called it a national model supported by NEA and state arts grants.
Speakers from the Springfield Community Music School described Sonido Musica as a decade-old partnership that began as a three-school pilot and has expanded to more than 30 Springfield schools, serving more than 1,000 students each week.
Eileen McNaffrey and program partners praised music teachers and program staff for building student skill and engagement; presenters noted Sonido Musica has attracted funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Massachusetts Cultural Council and has been recognized as a model for creative youth development.
Rick Marshall, a local program leader who leads drumming and bucket-band instruction, led a demonstration for the committee and emphasized student participation and experiential learning. Presenters said the program has raised more than $2 million in public and private funds over the past decade and provides ongoing in-school instruction and monthly "ignite" gatherings for students.
Why it matters: committee members and the superintendent praised the program as contributing to arts education, student confidence and community engagement. The presentation emphasized partnerships between nonprofits and district music teachers.
Ending: The committee applauded program staff and students and invited Sonido Musica to continue performances and partnership work with district schools.
