Arts-in-Education Residency
Through partnerships with Fischoff Competition alumni, Fischoff’s Arts-in-Education Residency programs bring exceptional free educational activities to more than 2,500 community children annually. Since 1995, Fischoff’s outreach programs have reached over 101,700 children and youth throughout Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan, placing a particular emphasis on underserved and at-risk communities.
Fischoff’s educational programs enrich the musical and cultural life of the community through personal interaction with musicians of the highest caliber. Artists perform for and interact with children, creating an open educational environment for those who may have limited experience in classical music. The programs are taken directly to audiences in familiar environments – in schools, libraries and community centers. For many, the programs are their first exposure to a live performance of classical music by professional musicians.
All of Fischoff’s educational programs are offered at no cost to participants. S.A.M. I Am (Stories & Music), the flagship program of Fischoff’s Arts-in-Education residencies, reinforces the importance of reading through the power of music. S.A.M. I Am programs allow children ages 5-10 to hear books transformed with flair and imagination by nationally-recognized musicians, all of whom are Fischoff Competition alumni. The program integrates music with literacy, storytelling and drama. Musicians often perform in costume, and instruments and melodies may represent characters, themes, and moods from the story. Programs are offered in school settings, and all classroom teachers receive a free copy of the book in advance of the program to incorporate the story into their curriculum. To date, 39,612 children have been served by this program.
2024 Arts-in-Education Residency
*Photography credit: Kathleen Dreier Photography
Lineage Percussion, comprised of Trevor Barroero, Lauren Floyd, and Wesley Sumpter, made history in 2016 as winners of the bronze medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, becoming the first percussionist, in the 43-year history of the competition, to be selected as a senior-division finalist. These incredible musicians have been honored again as Fischoff’s 2024 Ann Divine Educator Award Winner recognizing them for their outstanding and imaginative programming for children.
Professionally endorsed as educational artists with Black Swamp Percussion, Remo Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks and Dragonfly Percussion, they have presented clinics, recitals and outreach events for elementary schools, high schools, retirement communities, and private organizations in Maryland, Georgia, Arizona, and most recently, at the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa.
Founded in 2014 in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, Lineage Percussion is deeply rooted in a rich history of orchestral percussion. Barroero, Floyd and Wesley also perform as timpanists and percussionists for the Tucson Symphony, West Virginia Symphony, and LA Philharmonic.
Fischoff is proud to announce that the Lineage Percussion has been selected as the winner of the 2024 Fischoff Ann Divine Educator Award. Read the full press release.
The 2024 residency will occur Tuesday, November 19 – Monday, November 25, 2024 in St. Joseph and Elkhart counties.
2024 Stories and Music
As part of the Arts-in-Education residency, Lineage will present Fischoff’s signature S.A.M. I Am (Stories & Music) program. S.A.M. I Am reinforces the importance of reading through the power of music in a musical retelling of a children’s picture book. This year Fischoff is featuring the award-winning book, Miss Nelson Is Missing!, by author, Harry Allard and illustrator, James Marshall. This hilarious, imaginative book is about the naughty students in Room 207. These students meet their match in a surprise teacher whose presence ultimately teaches them about respect and gratitude.
Access full program information and companion education materials for teachers and students from previous S.A.M. I Am programs in our Online Resources Repository.
Schedule of Events
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Stories & Music: Holy Cross School, South Bend, IN
Stories & Music: La Casa de Amistad, South Bend, IN
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Workshop and Stories & Music: Roosevelt STEAM Academy, Elkhart, IN
Workshop and Stories & Music: Boys & Girls Club with Song Circle and ECoSistema
ECoSistema Community Concert at Roosevelt STEAM Academy, Elkhart, IN
Thursday, November 21, 2024
Stories & Music: West Goshen Elementary, Goshen, IN
Workshop: Woodland, Elkhart, IN
Workshop: Concord High School Percussion Ensemble, Elkhart, IN
Friday, November 22, 2024
Stories & Music: Muessel Elementary and Madison STEAM Academy, South Bend, IN
Stories & Music: Nuner Elementary School and Fine Arts Academy, South Bend, IN
Stories & Music: Boys & Girls Club, South Bend, IN
Saturday, November 23, 2024
Stories and Music: St. Joseph County Public Library Main Branch, South Bend, IN
Free & Open to the Public
11 am – Performance in Leighton Auditorium
12 pm – Activities and Meet the Artists in the Library Ballroom
Event Information
Fischoff Chamber Music Academy Workshop, Notre Dame, IN
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Percussion Workshop
2:00 – 3:00 PM, Penn HS, Mishawaka, IN
Free and open to the public!
Monday, November 25, 2024
Stories & Music: Coquillard & Wilson Elementary Schools, South Bend, IN
Stories & Music: Harrison Elementary School, South Bend, IN
Ann Divine Educator Award
Named in honor of longtime Fischoff Executive Director Ann Divine, who retired in 2018, this award recognizes her visionary leadership in cultivating community engagement through chamber music. The Fischoff Educator Award recognizes the educational outreach work of Fischoff Competition alumni who have demonstrated outstanding and imaginative programming for children and youth in the United States.
As the winner of the Ann Divine Educator Award, the ensemble receives a coveted endorsement from Fischoff, a cash award, and a weeklong community engagement residency including the creation and performances of Fischoff’s flagship S.A.M. I Am (Stories & Music) Arts-in-Education Residency program along with performance workshops and community concerts.
These programs provide arts experiences of the highest quality to students who would otherwise not have access to these opportunities, paying particular attention to underserved schools and communities. Through generous underwriting from foundation, corporate and individual donors, the Fischoff Arts-in-Education Residency programs are free to the more than 1,500 community members who annually participate.
Award Eligibility & Past Winners
The Ann Divine Educator Award serves as a complementary benchmark to the Fischoff Competition, which provides a forum for America’s finest emerging chamber ensembles. The Educator Award honors past Competition musicians who have established professional careers in chamber music, and have proven their ability to successfully build a career in both music performance and outreach education.
The Fischoff organization will select the winner from its national pool of alumni. While no application is necessary, Fischoff is always eager to hear from its alumni and learn of current activities.
All Fischoff Competition alumni who are engaged in music performance/education careers are eligible. Fifty percent or more of ensemble members must have participated in the Fischoff Competition, but not necessarily in the same ensemble. Ensembles must be comprised of three to six musicians. Individual musicians and educators are ineligible.
Education Award Winners
2024 Lineage Percussion
2023 Kenari Quartet
2022 WindSync
2021 Thalea String Quartet
2016 Jasper String Quartet
2015 Akropolis Reed Quintet
2013 Aeolus Quartet
2011 Axiom Brass
2024 Residency Sponsors
This Fischoff Arts-in-Education Residency performance is generously made possible by The Shein Charitable Trust, Anonymous, Community Foundation of Elkhart County and the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County
Residency Accolades
Stories and Music Feedback
“It motivated our goals of fluent reading for sure. It served as a model of the very things we talk about. It also encouraged visualization and deep comprehension along with responding to reading.”
– Dean of Students, Darden
“It was a multisensory experience which was more engaging than just reading the book.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Monroe
“Provides an additional “tool” to use in building reading strategies.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Darden
“One student’s parent reached out to me and said they have read the story every night before bedtime.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Swanson
“My students could not stop talking about the show!” and asked “Are they coming back tomorrow?!”
– Program Director, Charles Black Center
“They loved making connections to the real characters and their instruments that they played.”
– Teacher, Marquette Montessori
“I am so happy that Fischoff’s program has become an annual staple in our community center. I look forward to seeing them every year, just as much as the kids do.”
– Program Director, Charles Black Center
“The selection of a fairy tale integrated well with their current curriculum: It actually was perfect because earlier in the year we had done a Cinderella comparison with Rough Faced Girl and this tied into that perfectly. My students quickly made connections.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Beardsley
“I have students who speak Spanish, but most are not literate in Spanish. However, they were excited to see Spanish represented, and a number of them borrowed the book to take home for their parents to read it to them. So we were grateful to have it.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Beardsley
Activities were “Spot-on for our grade level and interest level.”
– 2nd Grade Teacher, Parkside
Workshop & Masterclass Feedback
“This visit overwhelmingly supports what I do—the students get to see where they can be going with their instruments, they feel important and are given an opportunity to be proud of the work and learning they’ve already done. They are more excited for learning their instruments … and felt valued as professional musicians played with them.”
– Band Director, Roosevelt STEAM
“WindSync showed us the potential we could grow to if we keep practicing our instruments…This can be more than a hobby if we practice enough”
– 5th Grade Wind Student, Roosevelt STEAM