Our Story

Our Values

musiConnects is a non-profit organization created to foster youth development and community connection through the craft of string playing. Our accessible, imaginative education and performance programs build lasting relationships between professional musicians, students, and residents in the Boston neighborhoods of Roslindale and Mattapan.

musiConnects was founded in 2007 on a distinctive residency model - based on the example of Community MusicWorks in Providence, RI - in which professional musical activity is conceived as a means for building socially just, equitable, and vibrant communities.

Now in its 19th season, musiConnects encompasses a thriving education program - offering sliding-scale or tuition-free private lessons, group/chamber music classes, and performance opportunities to 60 students at our Roslindale Studio, an In-School Program in partnership with local schools and a full season of accessible live performances through our Community Concert Series. musiConnects' mission is carried out by a dedicated team of Resident Musicians, faculty, and an engaged community of parents, supporters, and volunteers.

Our History

Founded in 2007 by Betsy Hinkle, musiConnects began as a project investigating chamber music as a vehicle for social change, by bringing people together from a variety of backgrounds to communicate through the shared language of music. Inspired by the model of Community Music Works in Providence, RI, Betsy's vision was to place members of professional string quartets in residence in low-income Boston neighborhoods as teachers and performers. musiConnects’ founding string quartet was the Boston Public Quartet, which started teaching violin, viola, cello, and chamber music - free of charge - at the Chittick School in Mattapan. In 2011, musiConnects expanded the program to the Sumner School in Boston’s Roslindale neighborhood, and created a second string quartet – the Sumner Quartet.

In 2010, increasing interest from our neighbors in Roslindale & Jamaica Plain led musiConnects to open our Roslindale Studio Program, which offers sliding-scale private lessons, group classes, and performance opportunities.

In 2016-17, musiConnects widening its circle of community collaborators to include four partner sites: Boston Public Schools' Mattahunt Elementary, BCYF Mattahunt Community Center, Lena Park Community Development Corporation, and KIPP Academy Boston.

Today, musiConnects' staff of Resident Musicians brings transformative musical experiences to the neighborhoods in which they live and work through both our Roslindale Studio Program and our In-School Program.