Music for Strings and Community was originally imagined as a chance to bring participants from across Washington Heights to a central location for several weeks of collective composition sessions, where we would explore ideas and create new music together.

But as the COVID-19 crisis unfolded, we realized there would be no way to safely achieve that dream this year. We had to reinvent the project as something that could exist primarily in digital space, hold our only in-person events outside Word Up Community Bookshop, find ways to create music in real time over Zoom with students at Washington Heights and Inwood Music Project, and settle for bringing together participants’ ideas virtually rather than in person. This website is a window into that translation process. The question that emerged from this process became the theme of our project: “How are we marking time this year?”

Music for Strings and Community is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Learning, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.. LMCC serves, connects, and makes space for artists and community.

Special Thanks To Our Participating Organizations: Washington Heights and Inwood Music Project, Word Up Community Bookshop, and the Y of Washington Heights and Inwood

Project Facilitators: Evelyn Petcher, Rachel Mangold, and Da-Hye Yang

Leadlights Ensemble Support Leaders: Julie Lawrence, Aekyung Kim, and Alina Lee

WHIN Student & Staff Participants: Nathalia Bethencourt, Foley Bondoc, Gabriela Bravo, Simon Brown, Leo Eleutario, Julian Jackson, Zak Massoud, Armstrong Muhammed, Andrea Profili, Jennyfer Ruiz, Raphael Rhodes-Schedler, and Liam Yuen

Many thanks to Assaf Gidron, who made the vision for this website into reality!