Community Engagement

Residency Programs and Community Concerts

We expanded our program in Season 33!

Last season we offered our inaugural Community Engagement Program in partnership with Decoda, Inc, an affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall. Their engaging creative programs and workshops were so well received and made such an impact on the community that the Musical Masterworks’ Board of Directors voted unanimously to make this in-depth Community Engagement Program a part of MM’s mission. Further, we are delighted to have named Decoda as Musical Masterworks’ Ensemble-in-Residence and expanded our programming in 2023 from one week to two weeks.

In November, Musical Masterworks and Decoda built on the relationships formed last year with shoreline nonprofits and schools.

We spent a week with Waterford Country School, a nonprofit dedicated to educating at risk youth who have been unsuccessful in traditional school settings, working with students using creative musical programming to foster trust, community and boost confidence. We also returned to Fitch High School to work with their advanced theory and composition students to help them envision and experience the world of professional musicians/composers as they work with our Ensemble-in-Residence to create and present their compositions to a live audience.

Since our first workshop last year with Vista, a nonprofit creating community for neurologically diverse adults, a true partnership was developed. Members of the Vista community now regularly attend MM main series concerts. In addition, staff from MM attend presentations by the Vista Community. We are delighted that this year we expanded the number and scope of our creative workshops with their community and incorporated both music and the visual arts into the program.

The second week of Decoda’s residency focused on creative programming for Cheshire Correctional Institute inmates – a high/medium security men’s prison in New Haven County.

Decoda, through their other long-term residencies with prisons, have been “inspired by the power of music to help with rehabilitation and anti-recidivism.” MM is so excited to have offered this programming which “promotes self-expression in a creative space, strengthens citizenship within the prison community, and uses collaborative activities to foster social and analytical skills for success.”

  • "Waterford Country School’s experience working with Musical Masterworks and Decoda this December was amazing for both students and staff. Being a therapeutic education program, this collaboration allowed our students to explore music, song writing and self-expression such as unique way, that they are excited to learn more and continue this exploration."

    - Waterford Country School Staff Member

  • "I learned about a new type of music that helps regulate my emotions”

    - Fitch High School Student

  • “Thank you for this life changing experience. I will never be the same. My heart just grew larger because of workshop”

    - Cheshire Correctional Institute Inmate

  • "This one week experience deepened staff and students connections and allowed them to be open to creating new connections”.

    - Waterford Country School Staff

  • "I learned that I want to try composing new music or putting together a trio/quartet with my friends. Chamber music is AWESOME!”

    - Fitch High School Student

  • “Thank you for your time and I do believe that Musical Masterworks should receive unlimited funding to help change lives as well as save lives through music.”

    - Cheshire Correctional Institute Inmate

  • "Through our connection with Musical Masterworks and Decoda, we opened ourselves to exploring music as part of our program and have hired a music teacher.”

    - Waterford Country School Staff Member

  • "I want to say that Decoda was an amazing experience for me to be creative and to grow not only as a band student but also as a student in general."

    - Fitch High School Student

  • "The spark I saw in my students while working with Decoda is one that has inspired my students to embrace the world of music."

    - Fitch High School Staff Member

  • “Try your best to come back.”

    - Cheshire Correctional Institute Inmate

  • “Thank you for your time and I do believe that Musical Masterworks should receive unlimited funding to help change lives as well as save lives through music.”

    - Cheshire Correctional Institute Inmate

We hosted two FREE Community Concerts in 2023.

In addition to the residency programs, Decoda performed at several community venues in Old Lyme, including a family concert at LYSB and a formal concert at Saint Ann’s Church in Old Lyme, co-hosted by Saint Ann’s and the Lymes’ Senior Center; followed by a post-concert reception.  

Read CT Examiner's story about this year's Community Engagement Program