Philly’s music education inspires future symphony leaders

McFadden’s career highlights the power of music education — something deeply valued in Philadelphia’s public schools and community programs. In fact, the Philadelphia School District spends millions of dollars each year on arts and music education. However, in the 2015-16 school year, officials took a closer look at whether those funds were being used effectively.

“That led to the development of our arts and creativity framework, which is our blueprint for building art-rich schools,” said Frank Machos, executive director of Arts & Creative Learning at the Philadelphia School District. “We wanted to figure out how to make our schools more creative overall and ensure students had opportunities in every subject area in a culturally inclusive environment.”

A 2023 study by the University of Southern California underscores just how vital these programs are. It found that musical education benefits students’ well-being, helps them develop crucial life skills, and strengthens their connections to school and community.

“It’s why the arts are so important for a child’s holistic education,” Conyers said. “The more you remove the arts, the fewer students dream or aspire. When handed an instrument, you learn to problem-solve, adapt, and collaborate — skills that extend beyond music and into real life.”

Conyers’ Project 440, the nonprofit that helps young musicians hone not just their craft but also their life skills, is insistent on producing more success stories like McFadden’s. The organization offers a flagship course called “Doing Good,” where students design service-learning projects, often linking their musical talents to a community cause. They face a panel — “Shark Tank” style — and for three minutes pitch community leaders, musicians and educators for the chance to win $500 to launch their ideas.

“In this process, they are learning project management, they are learning communications, they are learning collaboration, and they are learning budgeting,” Conyers said. “We’ve developed a curriculum where we use student’s interest in music, their love of music and that passion to ignite the other possibilities in life.

One of the organizations born from this process is Generation Music, co-founded in 2018 by friends Chloe Cooper and Claire Casanova, both graduates of the Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts. Their nonprofit brings free or low-cost music education to underrepresented neighborhoods.

“We were the first inaugural class in Project 440’s ‘Doing Good’ program,” says Cooper, now Generation Music’s executive director. “They gave us a lot of tools and resources to get our idea off the ground.”

Another standout alum is Oleksandr Kashlyuk, a graduate of the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School, who now serves as an Airman 1st Class in the U.S. Air Force Band of the West. Maya Lindsey, a Masterman graduate, is studying at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music. In November 2024, the two made their debut as substitute musicians at the Philadelphia Orchestra — an honor many professional musicians dream about.

McFadden also recalls musical collaborations that have turned into friendships and professional connections that persist long after high school.

“We came up through those programs, won auditions together, and sometimes failed auditions together,” McFadden said. “That forges a true sense of community.”

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