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Your donation to EISMA
is music to your child's ears. Support EISMA today!
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Bringing the joy and appreciation of music 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 Sponsors Evanston's 2021 Starlight Concert Series
Posted June 1, 2021
EISMA is thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with the City of Evanston Parks and Recreation to present the Summer Starlight Concerts - nine free, outdoor concerts throughout Evanston in June and July 2021.
While the pandemic has paused our in-school concerts, we are so excited to provide live music experiences and support local musicians through this series. All concerts will be family-friendly events.
The June 19 Starlight Concert will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery.
The July 13 concert at Elks Park will include a Food Truck Festival, with food trucks featuring a variety of food and dessert options on site beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Starlight Concert Schedule
Tuesday, June 1
Arrington Lakefront Lagoon at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church Street
Luciano Antonio
Tuesday, June 8
Bent Park, Central Street at Cowper Avenue
Joanna Connor Band
Saturday, June 19 - Juneteenth Celebration
Ingraham Park, Asbury Avenue at Leonard Place, behind the Evanston Civic Center
Sounds of E-Town, Corey Bless Production
Tuesday, June 22
Baker Park, Keeney Street at Forest Avenue
Chicago Loud 9
Tuesday, June 29
Kamen Park East, South Boulevard at Barton Avenue
The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band
Tuesday, July 6
Canal Shores Golf Course, 1030 Central St.
James Sanders & Conjunto
Tuesday, July 13 - Food Truck Festival
Elks Park, Callan Avenue At Mulford Street
South City Revival
Tuesday, July 20
Larimer Park, Crain Street at Oak Avenue
Bailey Dee
Tuesday, July 27
Mason Park, Church Street at Florence Avenue
Gerald McClendon "The Soulkeeper"
We can't wait to see you there! Share your photos from the concerts on the EISMA Facebook page!
Starlight concerts will take place on Tuesdays, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be cancelled. The decision to cancel will be made by 4:30 p.m. on the show date. Residents can learn about a cancellation by calling 847-448-4311 (until 6 p.m.) or by visiting cityofevanston.org/starlight.
EISMA is thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with the City of Evanston Parks and Recreation to present the Summer Starlight Concerts - nine free, outdoor concerts throughout Evanston in June and July 2021.
While the pandemic has paused our in-school concerts, we are so excited to provide live music experiences and support local musicians through this series. All concerts will be family-friendly events.
The June 19 Starlight Concert will celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the abolition of slavery.
The July 13 concert at Elks Park will include a Food Truck Festival, with food trucks featuring a variety of food and dessert options on site beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Starlight Concert Schedule
Tuesday, June 1
Arrington Lakefront Lagoon at Dawes Park, Sheridan Road at Church Street
Luciano Antonio
Tuesday, June 8
Bent Park, Central Street at Cowper Avenue
Joanna Connor Band
Saturday, June 19 - Juneteenth Celebration
Ingraham Park, Asbury Avenue at Leonard Place, behind the Evanston Civic Center
Sounds of E-Town, Corey Bless Production
Tuesday, June 22
Baker Park, Keeney Street at Forest Avenue
Chicago Loud 9
Tuesday, June 29
Kamen Park East, South Boulevard at Barton Avenue
The Maxwell Street Klezmer Band
Tuesday, July 6
Canal Shores Golf Course, 1030 Central St.
James Sanders & Conjunto
Tuesday, July 13 - Food Truck Festival
Elks Park, Callan Avenue At Mulford Street
South City Revival
Tuesday, July 20
Larimer Park, Crain Street at Oak Avenue
Bailey Dee
Tuesday, July 27
Mason Park, Church Street at Florence Avenue
Gerald McClendon "The Soulkeeper"
We can't wait to see you there! Share your photos from the concerts on the EISMA Facebook page!
Starlight concerts will take place on Tuesdays, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be cancelled. The decision to cancel will be made by 4:30 p.m. on the show date. Residents can learn about a cancellation by calling 847-448-4311 (until 6 p.m.) or by visiting cityofevanston.org/starlight.
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
Your donation to EISMA is music to your child's ears.
Support EISMA today!
Support EISMA today!