Partnerships for Chicago Public Schools
The Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is a lead partner with Chicago Public Schools and Ingenuity on the implementation of the CPS Arts Education Plan. In response to emerging needs within the district, the Institute offers partnership programs that support the music education of students and teachers in CPS. More information about current programming is featured below, including information and resources from past partnerships.
CSO-Connect
Initiated in 2015, the CSO-Connect Curriculum Program brings CPS teachers from arts and non-arts classrooms together to develop lessons tied to a yearly theme and orchestral repertoire featured in a CSO School Concert. Through participation in five workshops, teachers analyze school data to develop foci for an arts-integrated curriculum unit and collaborate with peers within their school to deliver high quality instruction. Participating schools are provided access to the exceptional artistry of CSO and Civic musicians through in-school chamber ensemble performances and attendance at a CSO School Concert.
Participating CPS Schools:
Louis A. Agassiz Elementary School
Calmeca Elementary School
DeWitt Clinton Elementary School
Disney Magnet School
Innovations High School
Jahn Elementary School
Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
Josiah Pickard Elementary School
Sidney Sawyer Elementary School
George B. Swift Elementary School
To learn more about the program, please visit csosoundsandstories.org/category/cso-connect/.
High School Partnerships
Recognizing the unique challenges facing CPS high school orchestra programs, specialized partnerships aim to support instrumental music students and their instructors. Working closely with teachers and administrators, individualized programs are custom-designed to fit each partner. Activities may include master classes, sectional coaching, on-site CSO member chamber ensemble performances, side-by-side concerts, tickets and transportation to a CSO Open Rehearsal and/or Youth Concert, and more. These partnerships seek to enhance students’ musical experiences and expand teachers’ resources.
Participating CPS Schools:
Roald Amundsen High School
Kenwood Academy High School
Albert G. Lane Technical High School
Stephen Tyng Mather High School
Nicholas Senn High School
Past Partnerships
The Music Activity Partnership, a long-standing program offered from 1998-2015, engaged 189 teachers from 47 Chicago Public Schools. The MAP program provided a variety of resources to participating schools, including in-class visits by teaching artists, professional development opportunities for teachers to promote arts integration in core classes, in-school performances by CSO and Civic Orchestra chamber ensembles, tickets and transportation to a CSO Youth Concert, and more.
CSO-Ignite was an in-depth residency program from 2015-17 that offered select schools in-class instruction by teaching artists, in-school performances by CSO and Civic Orchestra chamber ensembles, and tickets and transportation to a CSO School Concert. Curriculum was developed in collaboration with schools, to meet student needs and fill gaps in music education curriculum. Its goal was to sustain and expand music education in each partner school, with planning time devoted to the development of a strategic arts plan.