Education
We believe that contemporary classical music literacy can help develop creativity, cultivate listening, and foster a shared understanding of our world. Since its founding Intersection has sought to devote half of its programming to youth and family programs. Intersection musicians, guest artists, and composers have worked with students through family concerts, the Contempo Kids curriculum, free children's concerts at Kidsville at the Parthenon, Contempo Kids summer and after-school programs, and restorative arts programming at the Juvenile Detention Center.
Intersection at Kidsville
Saturdays (see below for dates)
11:00 - 11:45 a.m.
The Parthenon at Centennial Park
2500 West End Avenue
Free admission
2025 DATES
February 22 - David Loucky, trombone
March 22 - Carl Larson, viola
June 28 - Mark Cramer, clarinet
October 25 - Jared Houser, oboe
November 15 - Molly Barth, flute
December 20 - TBA
Intersection musicians perform and interact with kids to explore how new music can expand our minds and ears. Children craft their own rhythm instruments and more! Kidsville uses the arts and play to help educate Nashville's youth in the areas of music, nutrition, fitness, and literacy to enhance the development of healthy and successful futures for our city's youngest citizens.
To view photos of our Kidsville performances visit our SmugMug gallery.
EXPLORE
new sounds for adventurous ensembles
World Premiere of New Work by Cristina Spinei
Performed by Hume Fogg Academic Magnet High School
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Intersection’s groundbreaking commissioning project, EXPLORE: New sounds for adventurous ensembles, is designed to inspire and engage youth orchestras, with a focus on string ensembles, both locally and nationally. This initiative fills a critical gap in the repertoire by creating works specifically for high school players that introduce them to new, extended, and unusual contemporary techniques, preparing them for future encounters with contemporary repertoire. Unlike typical commissioning projects, EXPLORE involves close collaboration with educators to ensure the pieces are challenging yet accessible, promoting growth and confidence among young musicians. Additionally, Intersection aims to create a lasting online resource accessible to ensembles worldwide with scores and recordings.
Intersection at Pearl-Cohn
In 2020 Intersection began a partnership with PENCIL and the Pearl-Cohn Entertainment Magnet High School that encourages students to explore their neighborhoods through storytelling and contemporary music while learning practical live audio and video production skills. Pearl-Cohn is unique in its focus on the music industry, and is engaged in addressing challenges facing their communities and in building a more complete public identity for the 37208 zip code.
Pearl-Cohn students worked with Intersection artists and composers to design and create mixed media projects to be presented as a part of Intersection programs. The teaching artist Patrick Dailey served as the Project Manager for this collaboration, mentoring students and serving as a point of contact for teachers.
Contempo Kids is a composition curriculum created by Intersection to get students writing and creating music and developing their unique musical voice. It focuses on music creation, encouraging and guiding students to compose original works. While rooted in Western classical music, Contempo Kids explores other styles and musical expressions, notation and other methods of creation, tools and technology.
Through the curriculum students develop a deeper understanding of musical components, intention, and communication. Contempo Kids is designed to engage students of varying backgrounds and levels of musical experience.
Contempo Kids was launched as a pilot program at the W.O. Smith Community Music School, where it engaged youth from low-income families with contemporary classical music. As a part of this program, Intersection provided access to additional composers, guest artists, and musicians. While the program is currently paused, you can learn more by downloading a summary of the curriculum.
For more photos of our Contempo Kids program visit our SmugMug gallery.