Inspiring Young Hearts With Opportunity

Iris works with youth and educators alike to make music a part of all young people’s personal and academic growth. Through consistent mentorship during the school year Iris empowers the next generation with valuable musical training, transferable life skills and newfound inspiration. 

5

DAYS A WEEK OF INSTRUCTION

2,500

STUDENTS EACH SEASON

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Mentorship in Action

Just as music exists to connect us, Iris exists to build on those shared connections. We partner with different community schools to use music as a tool to foster conversations and deepen our connection to each other and our common interests. Our school partners include: Cummings K-8 Optional School, Rozelle Elementary School, Treadwell Elementary School, and Middle College High School. Students will have the opportunity to interact with Iris fellows and resident musicians and together make meaningful connections and music. 

STRING ORCHESTRA MENTORSHIP

Weekly

Iris Collective works with orchestra students from elementary through high school. Iris Fellows teach students at Middle College High School, Rozelle Elementary, & Treadwell Elementary and coach middle school chamber music students through GPAC Youth Symphony every week.

MORTON MUSEUM CONCERT SERIES

Fall and Spring

Special morning engagements with our partners at the Morton Museum are targeted to children and reimagining their experiences with music. Whether by bringing nursery rhymes to life or an instrument petting zoo, the children are able to see, touch, hear and play with music like never before.

Past Mentorship Projects

BARTLETT HIGH SCHOOL RESIDENCY

Iris musicians worked with Bartlett High School photography students to explore the intersection of music and visual art through interpretation of Schubert's Death and the Maiden.

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RANDALL GOOSBY & ZHU WANG: RISING STARS

This dynamic and award-winning violinist and pianist duo spent a week in residency working with young musicians and their families to share and create music together through workshops and performances. Students also joined the artists on stage in concert.

  • “We become more empathetic because of our involvement in the arts, which makes us more productive members of society. Art makes us all better human beings.”

    —AMANDA TUTOR, PHOTOGRAPHY TEACHER, BARTLETT HIGH SCHOOL

  • “The Iris Fellows are a big influence on my music journey. They are always looking for new opportunities for us and genuinely want us to grow in music.”

    —RAKYAH, MIDDLE COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT