IMPACT REPORT | 2025
What We Do
CSU CORE MUSIC LEARNING PROGRAM
High-quality violin, cello, upright bass and piano training and leadership development for 100 youth, ages 4-18, at partner locations: Roxbury YMCA, Twelfth Baptist ChurchRoxbury, Boston Centers for Youth and Families, and Remote via Zoom.
CSU provides free instruments, lessons, and learning materials with a nominal $25 annual registration fee to help ensure full commitment to the program.
In 2025:
ARTS ADMINISTRATION APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM (AAAP)
Beginning in high school and extending into postsecondary years, while in college or pursuing postsecondary training, AAAP provides young musicians with paid training in arts administrative and management experience. At the end of the apprenticeship journey, the most successful participants can apply for permanent employment at CSU.
“PRACTICE BUDDIES” (INTERGENERATIONAL MENTORS) PROGRAM
In 2024, in partnership with Friendship Works, CSU piloted “Practice Buddies”–a program model for intergenerational connections to create mutually beneficial relationships between students and seniors participating in the Friendship Works Program (age 60+).
Practice Buddies provide a supportive connection with a caring adult who can help foster more consistent practice and offer helpful advice, and ongoing encouragement.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
To grow our impact, we work with Recruitment Partners who help us spread awareness and attract community youth who become CSU musicians, and Program Support Partners who provide rehearsal and classroom space, performance opportunities & aligned services.
• Student enrollment increased 33% -- we now have 100 students enrolled in CSU’s Core Music Learning Program. A hallmark of our program is that staff connect with students and families to address any access issues that may arise, such as the need for flexible scheduling & transportation to support continuity of student participation.
• We employed 6 apprentices who provided peer mentoring, community outreach, social media, and program development support. 4 out of these 6 are alumni from CSU’s original 2012 pilot cello class.
• We expanded the program to include Seniors On the Move in partnership with the Roxbury YMCA.
• CSU doubled the number of recruitment partners and deepened our collaboration with existing program support partners, resulting in 100 students served - and a waitlist of dozens of students who will begin in the fall of 2026.
Current partners include: Celebrity Series of Boston, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Epiphany School, Roxbury YMCA, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, Twelfth Baptist Church, Seniors On the Move
What Community Members Say About City Strings United
STUDENT QUOTE
“I believe CSU gives young people a safe place to grow and learn through learning a musical instrument we learn discipline, listening, teamwork, and leadership.
CSU has inspired me to dedicate time to new performance opportunities…when I was younger, I couldn’t believe the places I had played or the great musicians I had met being a student with City Strings.”
PARENT AND COMMUNITY SURVEY FINDINGS
Parent surveys indicate high satisfaction and love for CSU’s developmental impact on their children, citing that CSU staff are very responsive to family needs.
Score of 4.6 out of 5 possible, October 2024 Parent Survey Results
The overwhelming majority of community respondents indicated that City Strings United exceeded their expectations in delivering on our mission.
I’m excited to see what this year may bring.
Bithyah & Rhea are wonderful teachers/mentors to work with as community leaders and partners.
Bithyah, the Board, staff and teachers are doing an outstanding job of changing the narrative about under-served youth and giving them life skills, enjoyment, pride in their accomplishments and hope.
Love the work! If I could afford it, I would sponsor $100,000 every year!
CSU is legendary and a significant contributor to youths of the community.
It is my great hope that this program continues to thrive.
Photo credit: Robert Torres, Celebrity Series Event: Stringfest, hosted by Celebrity Series
About City Strings United
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to promote youth development in historically excluded communities through access to high-quality, student-centered music education and ensemble performance.
ABOUT US
City Strings United was founded in 2012 on the belief that access to high-quality youth programs can create positive change in economically-strained communities and foster the social, emotional and educational development of its youth. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit youth evelopment program, City Strings United provides free cello lessons and unique performance opportunities to four-year-old through eighteen-year-old students primarily from urban Boston. But we teach our students much more than musical skills. Our focus is on discipline, teamwork, respect, listening and accountability - all attributes that we nurture to develop the whole child.
Our high-quality music education programming removes barriers to access such as experience level, age, or socioeconomic status.
Our success is made possible by the generosity of individuals and institutional funders, making equitable access to high-quality music education possible for a growing number of youth at City Strings United.
Your contributions power equitable student access.
CSU Apprentice Amber recruits Practice Buddies at “Boston Night Out” in Dorchester August 4, 2025
CSU Cello Ensemble performs at Kroc Center in 2025
Board of Directors
2025
Ellen Hallett
Board Chair
William Huss, Ph.D.
Treasurer
Marguerite Chatelier
Secretary
Cleopatra King-Wilkins, OTD
Vice Chair
Bithyah Israel Ex Officio, Voting
Olivia Grant Director
Gregory Hurray Director
Carrie King-Woodson Director
Mona Roberts Director
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Heidi Berman
Pat Bonner-DuVal
Rev. Jeffrey Brown
Jackie Jenkins-Scott
Klare Shaw
Ingrid Wolfson
