Many people helped to inspire the creation of Kids 4 Harmony (K4H)—notably the late Maestro José Antonio Abreu (1938-2018), who saw the potential for music to elevate children’s lives in Venezuela; Mark Churchill, who trained a new generation of teaching artists through El Sistema USA; and former Berkshire Children and Families CEO Carolyn Burns, who developed a music program building on children’s strengths and capabilities and her own Boston Symphony Orchestra connections. As Sean Elligers, K4H’s current artistic director, affirms, “Kids 4 Harmony involves music lessons and so much more!”
El Sistema, which began in Venezuela in Abreu’s garage in 1975, has grown to encompass 140 music programs across the U.S., including five in Massachusetts. Berkshire philanthropists Drs. Carolyn and the late Eli Newberger saw the potential in this youth development network and, together with a small cohort, helped launch Kids 4 Harmony Pittsfield in 2011 as part of the social services agency 18 Degrees (described below). This free, intensive classical music program serves some of the most under-resourced communities in Berkshire County, including over 60 combined students at Morningside Community School in Pittsfield and Brayton Elementary School in North Adams.
The musical staff
In addition to Elligers, who has been with the program for 10 years, the K4H team includes assistant artistic director/violinist Rachel Powers; lead string teaching artist/violist En-Ting Hsu; and teaching artist/former artistic director Alicia Stevenson. The program also employs 15 part-time musicians and two high school-age peer mentors. The teachers’ time and instruction, as well as the musical scores, are provided free of charge to the students, thanks to grants and donors. A reduced-rate rental program through Johnson Strings ensures students have a high-quality instrument at every stage. Two family liaisons teach a social-emotional learning curriculum and serve as a bridge between K4H and the other 18 Degrees initiatives.
Elligers, who holds a master’s in music education from the University of Massachusetts, introduced a composition component several years ago. Since then, students have been encouraged to compose their own music on Noteflight (an online notation program) for their fellow musicians to perform in concert. Last summer, the Elayne P. Bernstein Ensemble performed an original composition (“Komorebi Dansu”) by high school junior Davis Albayeros, which drew a standing ovation from the awestruck audience. “He really took to it,” Elligers says. “All you need is access to a tool in order to flourish.” Albayeros has composed many more original pieces, earning him recognition as “K4H’s in-house composer.”
Students begin in third and fourth grade (a new cohort is added in either Pittsfield or North Adams, depending on the year). The teaching artists meet with the children at their schools for at least two hours three days a week, and sometimes for private lessons after. “There’s strong retention throughout the elementary grades (roughly 70 percent),” Elligers says. “For students that stick with the program, that adds up to eight to 10 years of music instruction. Ten seniors will graduate this year, which is exciting!”
Building skills and competencies
“Learning music is the foundation, with the goal of helping each child achieve musical excellence and take their skills to whatever they choose to do in life,” Elligers continues. Along the way, and with the support of the family liaisons, the program cultivates social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies—including mindfulness, growth mindset, collaborative problem-solving, resilience, and interpersonal relationships. “A huge part of our work with students is teaching them perseverance using the magical word ‘yet,’ as in ‘You can’t do this yet,’’’ he states, noting that “if you keep returning to something, new ideas and new options can emerge.”
The Kids 4 Harmony program at 18 Degrees is the only El Sistema-inspired program embedded in a social services agency. Another unique feature is the staff, a “deep bench of talent” ranging in age from 21 to over 70. “We all bring different skills, interests, and perspectives,” Elligers points out. More importantly, they all bring their passion, excitement, and experience to their work. “Every day is like a professional development day,” he raves.
An annual performance, worthy of Tanglewood
All the deep connections and hard work come together in the annual gala when the entire community—supporters, family members, friends, and others—comes together to celebrate what they have worked toward throughout the year. “We’re talking about six to seven months of practicing, and an hour later, it’s all over,” Elligers sighs, “but the sense of pride that sticks with the students and their families continues long after the performance.” That same sensation happens for staff members daily, he notes, as they watch the kids’ faces light up. “That feeling when you finally ‘get’ something can fuel your confidence for a long time—we want our kids to feel that every day.”
Kids 4 Harmony students have been selected for advanced learning and performance opportunities, such as the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles (YOLA) National Festival and the Longy School of Music Side-By-Side (at Bard College). They have also studied at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute. “This all happens because of their dedication to their instrument and their teachers’ dedication to them,” Elligers acknowledges. “Many go on to major in music in college and ask to come back to teach.”
The biggest challenge? “I wish we could serve more kids,” Elligers confides. “But the kids we serve get a lot of attention. It’s important not to spread ourselves too thin since they are all at different places in their life and musical development.”
A spoke on the 18 Degrees wheel
“Our annual Kids 4 Harmony gala is our headliner to bring attention to what we do as an agency,” 18 Degrees president and CEO Stephanie Steed explains. “Kids 4 Harmony is a spoke on the wheel, an opportunity for forward-facing celebration of the often heavy work we do.”
Their website states, “18 Degrees promotes the well-being and strengths of children, youth, and families to build better communities in Western Massachusetts. We provide education, parenting skills and support, prevention and intervention, advocacy, and life skills across a spectrum of programs serving children, young people, individuals, and families in four areas: Early Education & Care, Foster Care & Adoption, Child & Family Well-being, Youth & Community Development.”
The nonprofit has existed for 140 years under different names (the most recent being Berkshire Children and Families). As part of its strategic planning process in 2019, the agency adopted the new name that better captured the work it does outside the areas previously represented (Berkshires, children, and families). “We wanted to make sure the door didn’t seem too narrow but instead reflected the whole scope of our services,” Steed emphasizes. The agency has also identified gaps over the years (for example, the 17 to 24 age group) and built programs to address them and be more community focused.
The new name refers to the sun’s angle as it appears over the horizon at daybreak. “At 18 Degrees, it’s our privilege to meet people where they are with the promise that for them and for all of us, the light will grow from the start of each new day along the journey,” Steed explains. “Our mission is to champion access, opportunity, belonging, and well-being for all people on their journey, helping to build thriving communities. This approach focuses on the hopes and dreams of those we serve and helps them see that new beginnings are possible.”
Evolving in community, over time
In the beginning, they worked to support families by providing child care and helping people establish and maintain family stability. Those services continue to morph as the needs of the communities change. Today, 18 Degrees serves over 3,000 individuals. “We work with all ages, from children to young adults to families—anyone in need of support,” Steed affirms.
The landscape of support needs has evolved significantly over time, reflecting the changing challenges faced by different demographics. “Community violence and poverty is an ongoing problem. Many young people experience trauma,” Steed continues. In addition to connecting people to resources for food, shelter, and stability, the Family Resource Center offers education and empowerment through programs like Brave Spaces for LGBTQIA individuals. It also strives to build resilience by offering young people with healthy alternatives to substance use, such as a recently introduced boxing and kickboxing program.
Since being hired in 2005, Steed has experienced the organization’s growth and development firsthand, giving her insights to make an even more significant impact as a leader. “I’ve done a lot of the work I ask the staff to do and feel very connected to this organization and the people I work with,” she states. At the same time, she reminds her staff, “We can’t be experts in everything or hope to fix every injustice. The community is strong, and there are resources available. Our job is to introduce people to what is there—organizations like Volunteers in Medicine, Brien Center, and others—and continue to finetune our work to keep the connections strong.” The focus has also shifted to addressing why people come through the door and the other services they may need help navigating.
Steed oversees an overall staff of 160 part- and full-time employees to provide services throughout western Massachusetts. In Berkshire County, their main office (480 West Street, Pittsfield) is home to early education and care, several family support services (including the Family Resource Center), and foster care and adoption team members. Additionally, 18 Degrees provides youth and community development programming in Pittsfield and North Adams, has additional childcare at the nearby Redfield House and out-of-school time care in two Pittsfield Schools, and is embedded in two western Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) offices. An additional office in West Springfield (59 Interstate Drive) houses Pioneer Valley community-centered family support programs and more foster care and adoption services.
“We have 20 programs in all, with an operating budget of $10 million—approximately 75 percent of the revenue comes through state contracts, and the remaining 25 percent comes from various sources, including grants and contributions,” Steed explains. While she anticipates possible changes in child care and food services if the federal government decreases funds to those programs, she says, “The greatest challenge we face is the ongoing impact of COVID—including the lingering effects of kids being at home and the compounding economic struggles, which extend to program participants and staff alike.” The workforce has also changed dramatically, making it harder to provide services.
Staying connected
Steed makes an effort to remain engaged with the staff and the families they serve. “This week, I attended a mentor appreciation celebration supporting the growth and development of our children, which allowed me to spend time with the people receiving our services,” she says. One student shared a lot of feedback and advice, she notes with a smile. “We have constant access to our stakeholders through our board, staff, participants, parent groups and families, and several steering committees. We are always looking for sustainability—not quick initiatives, but how to maintain and staff our programs long-term.”
Her greatest joy? “This team,” she smiles, referring to the senior leadership team, whom she describes as passionate and steadfast. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” she acknowledges, “but the fun part is having people with passionate new energy working together with people who know the work—ensuring big dreams, long ties, and practical wisdom.”
Connecting with donors is essential—notably at the Kids 4 Harmony Summer Gala Concert. Now approaching its fourth year at Tanglewood (on June 24, 2025), the event showcases the musicality and achievements of the young string players, often performing alongside guest artists (including Emanuel Ax and Owen Young) from the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
“The most important connection by far is with the kids. They’re our ambassadors, and they’ll talk about the benefits of our program with other kids, their parents, whoever will listen,” Steed concludes. “We’re here to be supportive, and we need community support in return—it’s a full-circle process.”
For more information on how you can support Kids 4 Harmony and 18 Degrees, visit their website.
