Rockport Music’s Youth Education programs provide learning opportunities and hands on musical experiences to the Cape Ann community, as well as the greater Northshore. In addition to presenting free (and discounted) community concerts at the Shalin Liu Performance Center every season, the organization provides extensive and enriching multi-day artist residencies in the Rockport, Gloucester, Ipswich, Beverly and Manchester public schools that include side by side performances and workshops with students of all ages. Rockport Music also brings performances and educational opportunities to the broader Cape Ann community by collaborating with Boston-based music education programs for youth.
Music in the Schools
Our in-school artist residency programs focus on enriching the lives and musical abilities of children in Cape Ann and the North Shore area. These visits range from general presentations in gymnasiums to side by side performances at the Shalin Liu Performance Center.
This year’s residency programs feature Boston based Latin ensemble Ten Tumbao, the Rasa String Quartet, Backtrack Vocals, Windsync, Apple Hill String Quartet, Henrique Eisenmann with Paul Winter and Jazz Workshop Director Alexa Tarantino. Additional artist visits this year include the artists of the Global Journeys series, members of Phoenix and Palaver Strings with the Attacca Quartet. Several of these artists present public performances. For future public performances, visit our calendar.
Cape Ann Jazz Workshop
For jazz students 13-18
Alexa Tarantino, director
Rockport Music hosts a fun and engaging jazz workshop program for students 13-18 with a minimum of at least 3 years experience on their instrument for participation.
Writing Our Musical History
In the new education initiative Writing Our Musical History, Rockport Music will work collaboratively with 1623 Studios and four school districts. The students in Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester-Essex and Beverly High Schools will work with a teaching artist throughout the 2023-24 school year to write about a local landmark/site that is meaningful to them.
Rockport Music College Scholarships
In Honor of Susan Gray, Alec Dingee, Phil and Eve Cutter
Each year, Rockport Music awards the Rockport Music Scholarship, given to exemplary music students from Cape Ann and the surrounding North Shore communities. In 2023, there were three awardees: Benji Koeplin of Rockport High School, Finnian Mulkern of Rockport High School and Aeneas Strozier of Hamilton-Wenham High School. The scholarships are given in honor of Susan Gray and Alec Dingee and Eve and Phil Cutter.
Photo of 2023 Scholarship Recipients: Left to Right (back row): CEO & President Tony Beadle with scholarship recipients–Benji Koeplin, Aeneas Strozier and Finnian Mulkern; (front row): Honorees Susan Gray and Phil Cutter
