“Stringing Together Justice: How Music Haven and the Haven String Quartet Build Community, Equity, and Access”

Abstract: Music Haven's work in the community has been widely recognized as a model for social justice and arts access organizations. The organization has received numerous awards and grants, including the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award in 2018. Music Haven's approach to music education goes beyond teaching students how to play an instrument. We recognize that music can serve as a powerful tool for social change, and that access to music education can have a transformative impact on young people's lives.

In this lecture, we will explore Music Haven and the Haven String Quartet's history, their work in the community, and their role as a model for social justice and arts access organizations. We will examine the organization's philosophy of music education, its strategies for engaging with students and families, and the impact that Music Haven has had on the New Haven community. We will also discuss the challenges that Music Haven faces as it continues to expand its programs and reach more students, and the lessons that other organizations can learn from Music Haven's approach to music education and social justice.

Featured in the New York Times and on NPR, the Haven String Quartet (HSQ) is a professional string quartet whose members serve as mentors and teachers to students of Music Haven. Its four members represent some of the world’s top conservatories and bring outstanding chamber music performances to New Haven neighborhoods and throughout the region with a full season of concerts, recitals, educational workshops, and performances for diverse audiences in public spaces. Since 2006, the HSQ has helped students and audiences throughout New England develop musical skills, build confidence, and cultivate a love for the arts.

The Quartet serves as the permanent quartet-in-residence and teaching faculty for Music Haven, and spearheads the organization’s tuition-free strings program for youth, which has been recognized as a top 50 after-school arts program in the country by the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities for six years. Each member of the HSQ teaches a full studio of 15-20 Music Haven students in private lessons, group classes, studio classes, chamber groups, and an advanced chamber orchestra.