Musicians for Equality: Harmony Program

Musicians for Equality is a student-led non-profit organization that advocates for equality and equity in the music industry and across the globe. We do this by hosting regular live streams and recitals featuring young musicians from around the world to raise money to support the fight for racial equality. Musicians for Equality stands by and amplifies the voices of the black community that have been silenced for hundreds of years, and we strive to educate ourselves and each other and spread awareness through music. Any amount of money will be helpful, and we thank you in advance! Please follow our instagram (@musiciansforequality) for regular updates about our live streams and the featured musicians.

We are currently raising money to benefit the Harmony Program, a non-profit organization based in New York City that provides after-school music education to communities with limited access and resources. Donations go towards providing instruments and supplies to students, supporting teachers, and funding daily, free after-school music instruction. Thanks in advance for your contribution! All of our concerts are live-streamed on our YouTube channel (Musicians for Equality). 

Harmony Program's mission statement: "At the Harmony Program, music changes lives every day. Through collective music making, children from underserved communities explore new avenues and realize their full potential. Our specially trained teachers guide students from beginner group instruction to orchestral performance, building life skills and community from a shared love of music."

You can find more information at harmonyprogram.org

Musicians for Equality is currently directed by Lisa An.

Lisa An is a 17-year-old violinist from Seattle, Washington. She serves as the concertmaster of the Evergreen Philharmonic, where she has been awarded the title of Most Achieved and Most Inspirational. Lisa enjoys playing chamber music as part of the Byul Piano Trio, enrolled in the Seattle Chamber Music Society Academy, and enjoys playing gigs around the city. Lisa is the director of communications for Relay, a high school and college dual-enrollment mentorship program for Running Start students. Through her work at Musicians for Equality, Lisa hopes to provide young musicians with new opportunities where financials are not a barrier. Music has taught her the value of listening not only to the notes but to the voices that lie behind them.

The organization was co-founded by two musicians: Isabelle Wolpert and Nate Strothkamp.

Nate Strothkamp is an 18-year-old violinist from Portland, Oregon. His passions include serving as co-concertmaster of Portland Youth Philharmonic, mentoring PYP's Young String Ensemble, and serving as Executive Director at Project Prelude, a student-led nonprofit organization that aims to expand the accessibility of music education to students from economically disadvantaged schools through free music lessons. Through his work at Musicians for Equality, Nate hopes to use the power of music to create positive change and work towards a world where everyone is equal. 

Isabelle Wolpert is an 18-year-old pianist from the Twin Cities area in Minnesota. She is the founder and co-president of The Music Lab, a community of musicians who experiment with different genres and collaborate to combine and expand their own musical horizons, section leader of her school’s orchestra, is a co-music director for two upcoming student-led musicals, and has started to play for her school’s pit orchestra. Through her work with Musicians for Equality, she hopes to use the unity that music creates to push the world to be a space where all voices can be heard.