ATX Chamber Music and Jazz brings world-class performances directly to Austin’s classrooms and communities, breaking down barriers so every student can experience live music. From donated concert tickets to in-school performances by internationally renowned artists, our programmes reach thousands of young people each year.
ATX Chamber Music and Jazz is committed to dissolving barriers to the arts. Through sustained partnerships with Title I schools and Austin-based youth organizations, we ensure access for students who would not otherwise experience live professional performances.
Our commitment extends beyond the stage. We believe that all members of our community deserve to experience great music, which is why our core program, Everyone Deserves Art, brings world-class artists directly to Title I schools and other educational institutions throughout Austin.
To ensure everyone can experience the magic of live concerts, we also donate 10% of our tickets to students and their chaperones. Many of the students in our audience are there thanks to the generosity of our patrons.
Our goal is to make live music accessible to everyone. Each season, we are proud to deliver:
As we enter our fourth season, we are continuing to expand our commitment to the next generation. In addition to the regular in-school outreach concerts we present throughout the year, we are thrilled to bring educational opportunities to over 6,500 young people across Austin by introducing two dedicated outreach weeks:
Jazz Fest Outreach Week: Leading up to the inaugural ATX Jazz Fest, our celebrated festival artists will spend a full week bringing live jazz directly into Title I schools throughout Austin. To further nurture local talent, these artists will also provide hands-on mentorship through dedicated masterclasses at the Butler School of Music and Huston-Tillotson University.
Chamber Music Outreach Week (May 2027): The internationally acclaimed Marmen Quartet and pianist Anna Petrova will spend a week bringing world-class artistry directly into Austin’s schools and communities. This dedicated week of educational outreach will be capped off by their stunning public performance.
We provide aspiring local musicians with rare access to masterclasses and mentorship from world-renowned artists, ensuring the next generation has the tools and inspiration to thrive.
Masterclasses and Expert Instruction: To support dedicated young musicians in our community, we bring top classical and jazz artists directly to student ensembles to provide free, hands-on mentorship. For example, we regularly partner with programs like the Austin Youth Symphony to offer high-level instruction from our visiting guest artists.
Collaborative Performance Opportunities: We believe in giving students the thrilling opportunity to share the stage with leading professionals. Past initiatives have included collaborating with local music programs—such as the Songbird Rising Suzuki School—where young string players received video tutorials and in-person coaching before performing live on stage alongside Grammy-Award-winning artists, Time For Three.
Interactive In-School Performances: Recognizing that students at Title I schools often lack regular access to high-quality live music, we bring our artists directly to them. At campuses like the Bertha Sadler Means Young Women’s Leadership Academy, our artists have provided private performances and engaging Q&A sessions designed to foster confidence and curiosity.
Creating Space for Connection: We bring music into spaces where marginalized and vulnerable youth can gather, listen, and connect. Through collaborations with organizations such as GirlForward, we’ve offered intimate recitals for immigrant and refugee girls, creating opportunities for shared experience, reflection, and community.
“Hello! Just a quick note to say thank you on behalf of my daughter. She was one of the students in the Songbird Rising Suzuki School that played tonight with Time for Three. Making this opportunity available to the children was an amazing experience that I know my daughter will remember forever! I really appreciate all you are doing for the music community! Thank you and best wishes for a wonderful season!”
“Such a great trio. I liked seeing how much chemistry they have with each other, and their version of the carpenters song moved me to tears. I had a great time. “
“Thank you so much for the opportunity to attend the Secrets of Stradivarius concert! The The performance was utterly inspiring and invigorating to listen to. […] The skill and harmony of the ensemble were breathtaking, as the musicians blended their sounds into a soothing, beautiful harmony that reminded me of the joy of playing in a chamber group myself. This experience truly left a lasting impact on me. Thank you so much for making it possible to hear such astonishing music!”
“I want to thank you for the gift of a truly incredible concert and experience for the Austin Soundwaves students, parents, and teaching staff members who attended the “Secrets of Stradivarius” concert on Saturday September 7th. For most of the students and parents who attended, it was their first exposure to a professional classical music concert….For them to be able to hear this concert in a recital hall where they could actually see what the string players are doing, and really see them in action up close instead of in a large concert hall was an incredible experience – for all of us! ….I shared their joy – I wanted to hang on to this wonderful evening for as long as I could! I heard over and over from parents and students that night what a great experience this was for them….”
“We truly value these kinds of programs and recognize how important it is to provide our students with opportunities to engage with music and the arts. It’s experiences like this that really enrich their education and open up new possibilities for them. Thank you so much for providing this amazing opportunity—we deeply appreciate it!”
“I genuinely think that was one of the best piano performances I have ever seen!”
