Bringing the joy and appreciation of music
to Evanston schools since 1971
to Evanston schools since 1971
Our Mission
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Evanston In-School Music Association (EISMA) is a nonprofit arts and education organization dedicated to Inspiring Students, Supporting Local Musicians, and Connecting Community by presenting professional live music programs that bring the joy and appreciation of diverse musical genres to all Evanston elementary and middle school students.
EISMA presents two Concerts for Kids series in the fall and spring each school year. Ensembles perform live in 19 different Evanston schools, sharing musical insights, personal inspiration, and historical and cultural connections. Students sample the full range of musical styles performed by varying combinations of strings, brass, voice, and woodwinds, reflecting the traditions of many eras and cultures. EISMA brings 18 different genres of music to students in school throughout their kindergarten to 8th grade years.
EISMA presents two Concerts for Kids series in the fall and spring each school year. Ensembles perform live in 19 different Evanston schools, sharing musical insights, personal inspiration, and historical and cultural connections. Students sample the full range of musical styles performed by varying combinations of strings, brass, voice, and woodwinds, reflecting the traditions of many eras and cultures. EISMA brings 18 different genres of music to students in school throughout their kindergarten to 8th grade years.
News & Updates
EISMA Suspends Concerts for the 2020-2021 School Year
Posted October 20, 2020
All of us on the board of the Evanston In-School Music Association (EISMA) remain deeply sad that we were unable to present our Concerts For Kids in schools during the spring portion of our 2019-20 concert season, which was cancelled when schools went remote in mid-March. Our performers share our sadness that we couldn’t be together, and we all appreciate what a hard time this has been, and continues to be, for everybody. As these past months of physical isolation have illuminated more than ever, bringing live performances to all of our students is irreplaceable and will be satisfying on so many levels when we are safely able to provide this experience again.
In response to the current state of the ongoing pandemic and with much regret, the EISMA board has made the difficult decision to suspend our entire 2020-21 season for the first time in our 45+ year history.
Our mission is still to bring live music performances presenting diverse genres into the Evanston schools. We recognize that it is neither safe nor feasible to do so this fall, and it is unlikely that large assemblies will be returning to schools even by the spring.
Our current plan is to resume EISMA performances in the 2021-22 school year, when we will present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in November 2021, and the much-anticipated (and postponed since April 2020) Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2022.
In the meantime, the EISMA board is carefully strategizing ways to maintain the organization’s ongoing functions so we can spring back into action next year. The board and our Executive Director, Annalee Letchinger, will continue to work throughout the 2020-21 year so our organization is set up to serve all District 65 schools when students–and concerts–return in person, and in the years to come. We will once again be there for the schools and the students we serve, to continue our mission to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, St. A's and Pope John XXIII, once it is safe to do so.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy and upbeat during this time of adaptation and social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either of us at the addresses below, or Executive Director Annalee Letchinger at eismaconcerts@gmail.com, or send us a note through the contact form on this site.
Thank you for your support and your patience as we all try to keep our community’s best interests and well-being at the forefront and plan for a return of live music next fall! Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
Ellen Frolichstein
Co-President
cellenstein@gmail.com
Jen Martensen
Co-President
jenmartensen@gmail.com
All of us on the board of the Evanston In-School Music Association (EISMA) remain deeply sad that we were unable to present our Concerts For Kids in schools during the spring portion of our 2019-20 concert season, which was cancelled when schools went remote in mid-March. Our performers share our sadness that we couldn’t be together, and we all appreciate what a hard time this has been, and continues to be, for everybody. As these past months of physical isolation have illuminated more than ever, bringing live performances to all of our students is irreplaceable and will be satisfying on so many levels when we are safely able to provide this experience again.
In response to the current state of the ongoing pandemic and with much regret, the EISMA board has made the difficult decision to suspend our entire 2020-21 season for the first time in our 45+ year history.
Our mission is still to bring live music performances presenting diverse genres into the Evanston schools. We recognize that it is neither safe nor feasible to do so this fall, and it is unlikely that large assemblies will be returning to schools even by the spring.
Our current plan is to resume EISMA performances in the 2021-22 school year, when we will present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in November 2021, and the much-anticipated (and postponed since April 2020) Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2022.
In the meantime, the EISMA board is carefully strategizing ways to maintain the organization’s ongoing functions so we can spring back into action next year. The board and our Executive Director, Annalee Letchinger, will continue to work throughout the 2020-21 year so our organization is set up to serve all District 65 schools when students–and concerts–return in person, and in the years to come. We will once again be there for the schools and the students we serve, to continue our mission to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, St. A's and Pope John XXIII, once it is safe to do so.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy and upbeat during this time of adaptation and social distancing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact either of us at the addresses below, or Executive Director Annalee Letchinger at eismaconcerts@gmail.com, or send us a note through the contact form on this site.
Thank you for your support and your patience as we all try to keep our community’s best interests and well-being at the forefront and plan for a return of live music next fall! Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
Ellen Frolichstein
Co-President
cellenstein@gmail.com
Jen Martensen
Co-President
jenmartensen@gmail.com
Special Donations to EISMA in Honor of Retiring District 65 Music Teacher Margaret Philbrick |
Make a donation in Ms. Philbrick's honor via PayPal:
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Posted June 1, 2020
EISMA is thrilled to partner with several parents from Dawes Elementary School to coordinate a special donation to EISMA in honor of Margaret Philbrick, who is retiring from District 65 at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
The parents want to honor the time and energy Ms. Philbrick has invested into countless Dawes, Chute, Oakton and Walker students and the tremendous impact she has had on them as their first band instructor.
Thank you to Margaret Philbrick for 27 years of teaching and nurturing a love of music in District 65 students. We wish you all the best in retirement and thank you for making such a positive impact on so many students' lives.
Margaret Philbrick has been teaching Instrumental Music in the Evanston Schools for the last 27 years. Her job title was Director of Bands for Chute Middle School, Dawes Elementary School, and Oakton Elementary School. She was also part of the Walker Elementary School staff for her first 3 years before being appointed the District 65 Music Department Chair. She has served in the role of Department Chair for 24 years and evolved the role to become a Co-Chair position for the Music Department with her emphasis on Instrumental Music. Ms. Philbrick was employed as a coach in the Northwestern University Chamber Music program for 3 years. She is a long time Evanston resident, having previously lived in several southern states.
She has been playing trumpet for the last 50 years and is an active freelancer. Her musical experiences include performing as the principal trumpet for the Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffrey Ballet, Lake Forest Symphony, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Drury Lane Theatre. She also has performed regularly with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Philharmonic, Grant Park Symphony, Evanston Bach Week Festival Orchestra, and many other area based groups. She began her playing career as Third/Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and Tulsa Opera Company.
Ms. Philbrick holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree, with a minor in trumpet and piano performance from the University of Tulsa (Oklahoma) and a Master of Music Degree in trumpet performance from Northwestern University.
EISMA is thrilled to partner with several parents from Dawes Elementary School to coordinate a special donation to EISMA in honor of Margaret Philbrick, who is retiring from District 65 at the end of the 2019-20 school year.
The parents want to honor the time and energy Ms. Philbrick has invested into countless Dawes, Chute, Oakton and Walker students and the tremendous impact she has had on them as their first band instructor.
Thank you to Margaret Philbrick for 27 years of teaching and nurturing a love of music in District 65 students. We wish you all the best in retirement and thank you for making such a positive impact on so many students' lives.
Margaret Philbrick has been teaching Instrumental Music in the Evanston Schools for the last 27 years. Her job title was Director of Bands for Chute Middle School, Dawes Elementary School, and Oakton Elementary School. She was also part of the Walker Elementary School staff for her first 3 years before being appointed the District 65 Music Department Chair. She has served in the role of Department Chair for 24 years and evolved the role to become a Co-Chair position for the Music Department with her emphasis on Instrumental Music. Ms. Philbrick was employed as a coach in the Northwestern University Chamber Music program for 3 years. She is a long time Evanston resident, having previously lived in several southern states.
She has been playing trumpet for the last 50 years and is an active freelancer. Her musical experiences include performing as the principal trumpet for the Chicago Sinfonietta, Joffrey Ballet, Lake Forest Symphony, Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and the Drury Lane Theatre. She also has performed regularly with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Chicago Philharmonic, Grant Park Symphony, Evanston Bach Week Festival Orchestra, and many other area based groups. She began her playing career as Third/Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestra, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, and Tulsa Opera Company.
Ms. Philbrick holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree, with a minor in trumpet and piano performance from the University of Tulsa (Oklahoma) and a Master of Music Degree in trumpet performance from Northwestern University.
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Make a donation in Ms. Philbrick's honor via PayPal:
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EISMA Spring Concerts Postponed
Posted April 15, 2020
The EISMA Board and our contracted musicians are committed to continuing our mission at a time when it is safe and effective to do so. It is our hope that by the fall we will once again be able to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, as well as St. A's and Pope John XXIII.
This season's April performances are therefore postponed until next year, when we plan to present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in the fall, and the anticipated Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2021.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy during this time of sheltering-at-home.
Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
The EISMA Board and our contracted musicians are committed to continuing our mission at a time when it is safe and effective to do so. It is our hope that by the fall we will once again be able to bring high quality world music performances directly to all students in the District 65 elementary and middle schools, as well as St. A's and Pope John XXIII.
This season's April performances are therefore postponed until next year, when we plan to present the Gaudete Brass Quintet (with District 65 parent Paul Von Hoff on trombone) in the fall, and the anticipated Irish ensemble Wild Rose Collective in spring 2021.
We hope that everyone is staying healthy during this time of sheltering-at-home.
Please enjoy our education guides and performance clips from our recent past performances (and more to come!) for an uplifting musical reminder of positive past experiences!
Photos from Fall 2018 Concerts For Kids & Community Concert for All
Saraswathi Ranganathan - South Indian Veena artist
and guest musicians:
Indranil Mallick – North Indian Tabla (traveled from Kolkata, India)
V.S. Raghavan Srinivasan – South Indian Mridangam (traveled from Chennai, India)
and guest musicians:
Indranil Mallick – North Indian Tabla (traveled from Kolkata, India)
V.S. Raghavan Srinivasan – South Indian Mridangam (traveled from Chennai, India)