The Peer Ambassadors for Chamber Music (PACMan) program takes place on Friday of the Fischoff Competition weekend.  It involves our youngest competitors – ensembles from the Junior Division.

Each year, carefully chosen junior ensembles are invited into area classrooms to present informal performance-workshops for second and third graders.  The program’s purpose is to present to little learners a friendly and “real” introduction to chamber music.  Since Fischoff junior division competitors are also in school, they make perfect peer-role models for elementary school children who look up to and identify with older students.  The performance level of Fischoff junior division ensembles creates an excitement that is a powerful mentoring tool in encouraging young children to pursue music and to consider joining their own school or community band and orchestra programs.

This year’s Peer Ambassadors include:

• Aurora Winds, Austin, TX
• Breshears String Quartet, San Francisco, CA
• Encore Flute Quartet, Crystal Lake, IL
• Five Guys Wind Quintet, Washington, D.C.
• Halcyon Saxophone Trio, Houston, TX
• Lowell Quartet, Gilbert, AZ
• Passera Piano Quartet, Chapel Hill, NC
• Purple Hippopotami, Chicago, IL
• Quid Nunc Saxophone Quartet, San Antonio, TX
• Trio Fiammifero, Highwood, IL
• Trioscuro, Evanston, IL
• Voyageur Trio, Worthington, OH

Schools receiving Peer Ambassadors programs in 2024:

• Ballard Elementary, Niles, MI
• Clay International Academy, South Bend, IN
• Coquillard Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Emmons Elementary, Mishawaka, IN
• Lasalle Elementary, Mishawaka, IN
• Marquette Montessori, South Bend, IN
• McKinley Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Monger Elementary, Elkhart, IN
• Swanson Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Waterford Elementary, Goshen, IN
• Warren Elementary, South Bend, IN

Major funding for PACMan comes from an endowment established for the program by Barbara Warner. Special thanks to Diane & Nick Entrikin for their generous support of PACMan, along with our gala fund a need contributors. Additional funding is provided by generous annual contributions from our donors and sponsors.