Schools are where many American youth encounter classical music for the first time. Outside of the classroom, nonprofits and after-school programs provide mentorship to young people to support their creative and personal growth.

This includes mariachi education programs such as the Mariachi Master Apprenticeship Program (MMAP) based in Los Angeles County and their performance ensemble, Mariachi Tesoro de San Fernando; the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists, a nonprofit organization that mentors the next generation of young African American percussionists; and the DC Youth Orchestra Program, a PreK–12 after-school ensemble celebrating sixty-five years of music education in Washington, D.C.

This event will happen in-person, live on the National Mall, during the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on July 2-7, 2025. It will be livestreamed for online audiences and remain archived on our YouTube channel and website.