Community Engagement

Residency Programs and Community Concerts

We are expanding 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 name Decoda as Musical Masterworks’ Ensemble-in-Residence and have expanded our programming this year from one week to two weeks.

 

Learn about our free community concerts in November in Old Lyme!

During the first full week of November, Musical Masterworks and Decoda will build on the relationships formed last year with shoreline nonprofits and schools.

We will spend 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 will also return 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 has 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 will be expanding the number and scope of our creative workshops with their community and hope to incorporate both music and the visual arts into our creations

The second week of Decoda’s residency will be 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 be bringing 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.”

FREE Community Concerts in November!

In addition to the residency programs, Decoda will be performing at several community venues in Old Lyme, including a family concert at LYSB on Sunday, November 12, 2023 from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm. Decoda will also present a formal concert on Sunday, November 19, from 2:00 pm – 3:30pm 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.  Decoda concerts are FREE!

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