Carnegie Hall

(NEW YORK, NY; May 21, 2026)—This June, Carnegie Hall’s Summer Music Educators Workshop brings together nearly 150 music teachers from across the country for a four-day intensive, focused on the art of great music teaching. The free program is an opportunity for teachers to explore new ideas, build community with like-minded peers, and invigorate their own artistry.

The upcoming program—which runs from June 29–July 2 in Carnegie Hall’s Resnick Education Wing—features professional development workshops grounded in artistry and inquiry, discussions on classroom best practices, and ensemble rehearsals. A core faculty made up of teaching artists and leaders from across the music education field join this summer.

To culminate this year’s Summer Music Educators Workshop, a free concert will be offered on Thursday, July 2 at 2:30 PM at Riverbank State Park in Upper Manhattan. Two ensembles—a chorus and an orchestra made up of music teachers from across the country—will perform a range of repertoire for parkgoers. Sean Mayes, worldwide music supervisor of The Lion King, leads the orchestra and Alysia Lee, founder of Sister Cities Girlchoir, leads the choir. The concert is free and no tickets are required.

“We are thrilled to bring together music teachers across the country and uplift all of their great work,” said Sarah Johnson, Chief Education Officer and Director of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. “Carnegie Hall passionately supports music educators and the crucial role they play in delivering high quality music instruction to students every day. Summer Music Educators Workshop is a chance to explore big classroom questions. What does great music teaching in the classroom look like? How can music teachers deepen their artistry, practice inquiry, and become stronger musicians? We’re excited to get to the heart of these questions with the help of an excellent cohort of teachers and guest faculty.”

“This workshop was such a meaningful and rejuvenating experience,” said Kelly Kim, a teacher from Maryland and 2025 participant. “It reminded me of the joy and purpose behind what we do as educators, and it gave me space to grow not just professionally, but personally. I truly feel like my calling has been renewed—it was a powerful reminder of the purpose and passion that guides my life. Thank you for creating a space that centered joy, vulnerability, and connection—it’s something I’ll carry with me into the school year and beyond.”

A schoolyear edition of this program is offered monthly from September to June for New York City educators. Music teachers at all stages of their careers participate in workshops and music-making sessions with visiting faculty, learn from professional artists, network with fellow educators, and attend Carnegie Hall concerts. Since Music Educators Workshop began in 2013, more than 2,000 teachers nationwide have taken part in the program, creating a dynamic community of educators.

Click here to watch a video about the impact of Music Educators Workshop.

Online resources are also available for educators around the country. Carnegie Hall released Great Music Teaching, a podcast that explores what makes a music teacher “great” through a series of enlightening conversations with extraordinary educators. The Great Music Teaching Framework explores seven values that reflect and support great teaching: artistry, intention, inquiry, inspiration, compassion, expression, and agency. Each impulse is explored through an accompanying video series. Other popular online resources also include Music Educators Toolbox, a set of free lesson plans and activities organized by age range and topic.

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About Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute (WMI) creates visionary programs that embody Carnegie Hall’s commitment to music education, playing a central role in fulfilling the Hall’s mission of making great music accessible to as many people as possible. With unparalleled access to the world’s greatest artists, WMI’s programs are designed to inspire audiences of all ages, nurture tomorrow’s musical talent, and harness the power of music to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. An integral part of Carnegie Hall’s concert season, these programs facilitate creative expression, develop musical skills and capacities at all levels, and encourage participants to make lifelong personal connections to music.

Hundreds of thousands of people each year engage in WMI’s programs through national and international partnerships, in New York City schools and community settings, and at Carnegie Hall. This includes more than 208 orchestras, peer arts organizations, and education and community-based organizations in 46 states as well as internationally in 33 countries on 6 continents. WMI’s hands-on programs tap into the creativity of audiences of all ages, inviting them to make their own music in all genres, express their viewpoints, and raise their voices. WMI shares an extensive range of online music education resources and program materials for free with teachers, families, orchestras, arts organizations, and music lovers worldwide. As a leader in music education, WMI generates new knowledge through original research, which informs Carnegie Hall’s own programs and is also available as a resource to artists, organizations, and peers.

For more information, please visit: carnegiehall.org/education

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Lead support for Music Educators Workshop is provided by The Grace and Mercy Foundation.

Public support has been provided by the New York State Senate through NYS Senator Jose M. Serrano.

 

 

Photo by: Fadi Kheir