A new partnership launched this fall aims to expand Peabody’s institutional commitment to its neighbors in Baltimore and across the state, while at the same time providing some Conservatory students and Preparatory faculty an opportunity for extensive professional development as teaching artists.

By partnering with Young Audiences/Arts for Learning Maryland, Peabody is also supporting that organization’s mission of transforming the lives and education of our youth through the arts.

For Sarah Hoover (DMA ’08, Voice), special assistant to the dean for innovation, interdisciplinary partner-ships, and community initiatives, it seemed only natural for Peabody to connect with Young Audiences. “Here is this amazing organization, part of the nation’s largest arts education network, bringing music and the arts to every school district in Maryland, and actively seeking artists to serve that mission,” she says. “And here we are at Peabody, a community of artists actively seeking opportunities to connect with the community. It’s a perfect fit, and there is so much potential in working together.”

“Here is this amazing organization, part of the nation’s largest arts education network, bringing music and the arts to every school district in Maryland, and actively seeking artists to serve that mission.” — Sarah Hoover (DMA ’08, Voice)

Each year, Young Audiences connects educators, artists, and communities by facilitating the delivery of educational and culturally diverse arts programs — ranging from interactive live performances to long-term, classroom-based residencies — to schools statewide, reaching more than 175,000 students from pre-K to grade 12. The organization works with a roster of more than 100 teaching artists and groups to deliver these programs. Through the partner- ship with Peabody, Young Audiences addresses a need to add classical musicians to its roster, which this year will include two new groups with ties to Peabody:

• Marquee Brass, a quintet of Peabody brass students working with faculty artist Joe Burgstaller

• Peabody Opera Theatre’s Opera Outreach program, performing its family-friendly Papageno! program

Stacie Sanders Evans, executive director of Young Audiences/Arts for Learning, says: “Young Audiences was founded in Baltimore with the sole purpose of introducing children to classical music by professional musicians, and Peabody provided Young Audiences both office space and guidance in its formative years. This new partnership helps Young Audiences reconnect to our roots. We see it as just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what our two institutions can do together.”

— Tiffany Lundquist