June 20–21, 2025
Peabody Institute, Baltimore, MD
Supported by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, El Sistema USA (ESUSA) is pleased to announce the 2025 Regional Gatherings. This series of two regional events on the east and west coast will bring together music educators, administrators, and students for two days of professional development, networking, and community engagement. The East Coast Regional Gathering will be held at the Peabody Institute in partnership with Tuned In.
Event Overview
The East Coast Regional Gathering will bring together up to 100 educators and administrators from the ESUSA network, alongside 12 high school Youth Ambassadors (YAs) who will lead key sessions throughout the event. Focused on youth leadership, the symposium will explore best practices and strategies to develop the next generation of music leaders at the local level in after school and public school music classrooms. The event will feature faculty and students from the Peabody Innovation through Music Academy (PIMA), an annual student music camp focused on student voice and leadership.
Arrive Thursday evening June 19, depart Sunday morning June 22. Sessions are Friday and Saturday all day.
Youth Ambassador Cohort
The symposium will showcase the third national Youth Ambassador Cohort, a group of 12 high school students from across the ESUSA network. These students will lead sessions, share insights, and collaborate with attendees, exemplifying ESUSA’s commitment to empowering youth leadership. They will also work alongside the PIMA students in preparation for the symposium.
Early bird pricing ends on March 1, 2025. Each registration is for the full two day event.
Registration closes June 5, 2025.
| Tier | Early Bird Price | Regular Price |
|---|---|---|
| ESUSA Members | $125 | $175 |
| Non Members | $175 | $225 |
| College Students | $25 | $50 |
- Program leaders and managers designing programs and curriculum
- Public school teachers looking to gain new skills, network, and learn about incorporating youth voice
- Teaching artists of El Sistema-inspired programs
- Music education students
- Youth advocates and mentors aiming to support and empower young musicians as leaders within their communities.
- Administrators and policy makers interested in understanding the transformative impact of youth leadership in music education.
- Community arts organizations looking to collaborate and implement El Sistema-inspired strategies in their programming
Event Location
The 2025 El Sistema USA East Coast Regional Gathering will take place at the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University (1 East Mount Vernon Place Baltimore, MD 21202) on June 20-21, 2025.
We suggest you arrive Thursday evening, June 19 and depart Sunday morning, June 22.
Hotel
Book your stay for a discounted rate at the below hotel by May 19.
Hotel Indigo Baltimore Downtown
Address: 24 West Franklin Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Rate: $119/night. Includes a breakfast voucher for each day.
The hotel is a 2 minute walk (.2 miles) from the Peabody Institute.
Dining
Lunch will be provided on Friday and Saturday. Attendees staying at the hotel will receive a breakfast voucher for each morning. Dinner is on your own each night.
Friday, June 20, 2025
- 8:00–10:00 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
- 10:00–11:00 AM: Youth Ambassador Presentation 1
Youth Ambassadors share their leadership experiences and insights. - 11:00–11:30 AM: Snack/Coffee Break
Light refreshments and networking time. - 11:30 AM–1:00 PM: Collective Composition Session 1
Adult attendees participate in the first of two composition sessions. - 1:00–2:00 PM: Lunch
- 2:00–3:00 PM: Artistic Panel
- 3:00–4:30 PM: Site Visit
Explore PIMA rehearsals and classes in action. - 6:00–8:30 PM: Networking Dinner
Saturday, June 21, 2025
- 8:00–10:00 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
- 10:00–11:30 AM: Collective Composition Session 2
- 11:30 AM–12:00 PM: Coffee/Snack Break
- 12:00–1:00 PM: Youth Ambassador Presentation 2
Youth Ambassadors share insights from their leadership experiences. - 1:00–2:00 PM: Lunch
- 2:00–3:00 PM: Bringing It Home – Youth Voice in Your Program
- 3:00–5:00 PM: Community in Action: Guided Walking Tour of Baltimore
Intentionally-curated tours of Baltimore to help give context and opportunities to explore the community. - 5:00–7:00 PM: Peabody Innovation Through Music Student Showcase Concert
- 7:00 PM: Dinner on Your Own
Explore local dining options at your leisure.
