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. Learn More About the Youth Ambassador Program
Speakers
Derry Deringer
Principal – Deringer Consulting LLC
Derry understands your challenges and opportunities, having worked with over 70 nonprofits since 2011. Derry brings 20 years of fundraising expertise as an independent consultant and director-level individual and institutional giving staff. Before a 2002 transition to the public sector, he was a regional sales manager at UUNET, a business-to-business internet technology firm based in Northern Virginia.
A dynamic problem solver and motivator, Derry has 30 years of professional experience in business, nonprofit, and international organizations. He uses step-by-step advisory and coaching techniques to empower staff and board members on implementing successful capital campaigns and major gifts programs.
Dan Trahey
Manager of Creative Youth Voice & Leadership at El Sistema USA and the Director and Founder of Peabody’s Tuned-In Program
Dan Trahey is a musician, composer, educator, and social entrepreneur who designs socially conscious music programs rooted in youth and community voice. He has helped launch initiatives across the U.S. and internationally, including OrchKids and Tuned In at Peabody Conservatory, where he serves as Director. He also founded The Collective Conservatory to expand immersive music-making nationwide. Dan holds an M.M. from Yale and a B.M.E. from Peabody.
Dr. Ivonne Chand O’Neal
Founder and Chief Research Officer of MUSE Research
Ivonne Chand O’Neal, Ph.D., is a leading expert in creativity research, arts impact assessment, and cultural strategy, serving as the Founder and Chief Research Officer of MUSE Research, where she works with educational institutions, government agencies, and the entertainment industry to advance equity, access, and human flourishing through the arts.
Event Details
Early bird pricing ends on May 9, 2025. Each registration is for the full two day event.
Registration closes June 5, 2025.
| Tier | Early Bird Price | Regular Price | Last Minute Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESUSA Members | $125 | $175 | $225 |
| Non Members | $175 | $225 | $275 |
| College Students | $25 | $50 | $75 |
- 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.
Accessibility
El Sistema USA strives to make its programming accessible to all. The 2025 East Coast Regional Gathering will take place at Peabody Institute which is ADA compliant. Please visit the venue’s website for more information on accessibility.
For additional information or if you have questions, need assistance, or an accommodation not mentioned, please contact info@elsistemausa.org.
Friday, June 20, 2025
7:30–8:45 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
9:00–10:00 AM: Welcome Session
10:00–11:00 AM: Youth Ambassador Presentation 1
11:00–11:30 AM: Snack/Coffee Break
11:30–1:00 PM: Collective Composition
1:00–2:00 PM: Lunch
2:00–3:30 PM: Two simultaneous sessions:
- Unpacking Collective Composition
- Admin Session: Major Gifts Fundraising 101 with Derry Deringer
3:30–4:00 PM: Snack / Coffee Break
4:00–5:30 PM: Two simultaneous sessions:
- Baltimore Beat Lab: Youth Voice and Collaboration through Digital Audio
- Admin Session: AI and Fundraising
6:00–7:30 PM: Networking Reception
Saturday, June 21, 2025
7:45–8:30 AM: Breakfast at Hotel
9:00–9:30 AM: Welcome Session
9:30–10:30 AM: Youth Ambassador Presentation 2
10:30–11:00 AM: Coffee/Snack Break
11:00–12:30 PM: Ready, Set, Flow: Setting the Stage for Youth to Thrive Creatively with Ivonne Chand O’Neal
12:30–1:45 PM: Lunch
1:45–2:45 PM: Reflections and Call to Action
3:00–4:30 PM: Peabody Innovation and Music Academy Concert
5:30–7:00 PM: Placemaking Walking Tour of Food, Art, and History
Sponsors
