In the fall of 2015, the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra launched two exciting new partnership programs for Chicago Public Schools: an in-school residency program and a teacher professional development community. On this page, you will find more information about the residency program, formerly called CSO-Ignite, in addition to documentation of the work completed in its first year including: teacher testimonials, student work, details about curricula and more.

About the Residency

Designed for CPS elementary schools with developing arts programs, this program provides in-class instruction by CSO teaching artists and visits by CSO and Civic ensembles to two partner schools: Pickard Elementary School and Sawyer Elementary School. Activity is designed alongside classroom teachers and administrators, and is intended to fill gaps in the school’s music education curriculum.

With the ultimate goal of sustaining and expanding music education in each partner school, additional planning time is devoted to helping partner schools develop a strategic arts plan, including engagement with local school council, input from parents and community members, and collaboration with other arts partners.

Come back to this page to learn more about the program, including posts that feature: the work and curricula being completed at each school; teacher and student testimonials; details about the type of performances they’ve seen and experienced; details about the culminating event at each school and their plans for year two in the program.