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 Castle of Our Skins, Arcis Saxophone Quartet, Apple Hill String Quartet, Soggy Po Boys and Nightingale Vocal Ensemble. Additional artist visits this year include the artists of the Global Journeys series, a program called Ocean Music Action that will include a volunteer work project, a Musical Conversation about Race and Song, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and much more. Several of these artists present public performances. For future public performances, visit our calendar.

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.

Kristina Martin & Thomas Smoker, co-directors
Starting Fall 2024, the Cape Ann Youth Chorus at Rockport Music is a comprehensive musical experience in an inclusive, supportive environment for young singers ages 8-18.

During the 2023-24 season, in the education initiative Writing Our Musical History, Rockport Music worked collaboratively with 1623 Studios and four school districts. The students in Rockport, Gloucester, Manchester-Essex and Beverly High Schools worked with a teaching artist throughout the 2023-24 school year to write about a local landmark/site that is meaningful to them.

Each year, Rockport Music awards the Rockport Music Scholarship, given to exemplary music students from Cape Ann and the surrounding North Shore communities. The scholarships are given in honor of Susan Gray and Alec Dingee and Eve and Phil Cutter.