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Community

This page is all about how Pakachoag engages out in the Greater Worcester community.  With your support, as donor, enrollee or volunteer, Pakachoag is able to extend its reach. Every month, we’re usually out and about in the community, connecting, sharing and enriching.

Students enrolled in after-school partner programming work on their journals. By reflecting with words and pictures, students are reinforcing their music learning.

Engaging, Partnering

Creating More Equal Access for Out-Of-School music learning.

Research shows that the arts are vital to human development and in building healthy communities.  For these reasons and more, we believe EVERY child should be able to access after-school arts opportunities.  However, research also shows that many do not have access to out-of-school arts opportunities, in large part due to economic barriers; also transportation and language barriers. It is this need for more equal access which drives our investment in partnerships, expanded community engagement, and financial aid.

How we’re making Music for Life!

Music Matters – New for 2022-2023

Change a Life with Music – Make a Gift Today!

Donate CC or ACH, Online
Make a Pledge; Pay Later

We’ll follow up for all pledges.  Thank you!

  • For online payments, you can also choose the monthly, recurring option.
  • If you wish to mail in a check, you can also download a form on our Individual Giving Page.

Welcoming Every Student, Expanding Access

For Fall of 2022, Pakachoag embarked on the new “Music Matters” after-school program. Music Matters brings free or reduced tuition music learning and enrichment to local children and youth who lack the resources needed to participate in traditional after-school programming with Pakachoag.

The support of many, including parent gifts at registration, has given us the confidence to step up and out with Music Matters. For FY23, we’ll reach 100+ children and youth for a total of 700 instructional hours. Each activity responds to student needs and interests, with input from partners. With a $60,000 budget, we’re optimistic we can raise all of the dollars needed for the coming year.

The program consists of three branches of support.

  1. Off-site free music classes managed and funded by Pakachoag in partnership with 1 or more organizations. (FY23: $21,400 budget with partner Elm Park Elementary School.)
  2. Off-site programs managed by other non-profits, free for students in need. Pakachoag shares its expertise and funds faculty for a music component of the partner program. (FY23: $2,250 budget with partner Black Excellence Academy [BEA].)
  3. Need-based tuition subsidies, mostly on-site but also off-site or remote, for tuition-based Pakachoag programs. (FY23: $34,000 budget.) In addition to under-writing music lessons and keyboard classes, we’ll be partnering with Quinsigamond Elementary and Emanuel Lutheran to provide a Theater with Music class, at Emanuel Church, with full tuition subsidies allocated to local Quinsigamond Village children in need.  The QV segment of Music Matters is confirmed for funding via GWCF and is not part of this request.

If you would like to support the Music Matters program, you can do that online, here.

Pakachoag is currently working with the following community-based organizations to bring classes off-site or to accept partner referrals for financial aid.

  • Black Excellence Academy / BEA
  • Elm Park Community School
  • Boys and Girls Club of Worcester
  • CENTRO
  • Worcester Family Partnership
  • African Communication Education / ACE
  • Music Together at the Hanover Theatre Conservatory

We extend thanks to the following funders who are currently or have been recently supporting the Financial Aid and Outreach Program:

The Mass. Cultural Council / MCC; Greater Worcester Community Foundation / GWCF; The Rice Charitable Foundation and Hoche-Scofield Foundation / Bank of America, NA, Co-Trustee; The George F. and Sybil H. Fuller Foundation, DCU for Kids, Webster Five Foundation, Country Bank for Savings, The Fred Harris Daniels Foundation, the Ruth H. and Warren A. Ellsworth Foundation.  Also, Individual school donors.  Thank you for supporting our efforts to create more equal access to out-of-school music learning.

Building Community

If you’re a Facebook user, we invite you to like our School page.  As a Facebook Friend, you’ll get the latest news and information, often before that information is distributed through other distribution channels.facebook thumbs up

We appreciate it when you Like and comment on our posts!  This helps keep the School prominent and visible within the dynamic world of social media.  Thank you!

Enjoy music and conversation via our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/pakachoagmusic

We’re on Instagram at PakMusic.ma.

Partners in Music

Pakachoag is pleased to extend its reach into the community as a Partner in Music with the Worcester Children’s Chorus (WCC); and Worcester Youth Orchestras (WYO).

Our partnership with the Chorus and Orchestras creates more opportunities for our students and performers.

We will give precedence, when possible, to WCC and WYO families wishing to enroll in music school programs.  Please let us know if you are a chorus or orchestra members.

What is “Partners in Music”?

For Pakachoag Music School, our partnership with WCC and WYO is about creating more opportunities for Greater Worcester.  We’re not only sharing ideas and resources which strengthen each of us organizationally; but by creating cross-connections with music, the larger community benefits from richer and more diverse experiences.  Partners in Music is expanding the ripple effects of our music, inside and out.

The Worcester Youth Orchestras rehearse their larger ensembles at the Auburn Public Schools. The Worcester Children’s Chorus rehearses their larger choir programs at Assumption College in Worcester.

Enrichment – Performance Outreach

Each year, Pakachoag students bring music out into the community.  Some of our prior engagements have included:  First Night Worcester, Worcester Art Museum’s Flora In Winter, and guest student concerts such as Wesley Methodist Church’s  Arts Alive concert series and Fitchburg Public Libraries event series.  Each year, Pakachoag students visit one or two nursing homes/retirement centers to provide entertaintment and socialization for elders.

Financial Aid

Each year, Pakachoag hosts a benefit event proceeds from which help support the financial aid fund.

Pakachoag Music School, in addition to working to keep tuition accessible to average families, wishes to encourage families with limited financial means to contact us regarding financial aid.

Awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis, with renewing students given the option to pre-register prior to each upcoming academic year and in advance of new students.

Qualification is based solely on financial need; however, students will be expected to demonstrate commitment during the course of the year in order for aid to be renewed.

For more information, please visit The Financial Aid information page.

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Prior partner programs over the years include:

  • Auburn Youth & Family Services
  • Jewish Community Center
  • Seven Hills Foundation
  • Worcester Senior Center
  • Guild of St. Agnes Pre School
  • Elm Park Early Childhood Learning Center
  • Notre Dame Assisted Living Center

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Pakachoag Music School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national or ethnic origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.