Sonya Robinson is the Founder and Managing Director of Artist Corps New Orleans.

Artist Corps provides critical leadership to the field of K-12 music education in New Orleans, expanding access to excellent musical instruction for all students by: empowering music educators; educating school, district and state leaders; engaging artists and cultural organizations; and connecting schools, programs and local and national resource providers to develop comprehensive, sequential, well-resourced music programs in public schools. Through the MAPPING MUSIC initiative, Artist Corps is collecting extensive data on music education to share with the community – providing vital information to educators, students, families and funders.

Artist Corps was founded on the principle that every student in New Orleans deserves an excellent education that includes music instruction and experiences. As outlined in Music Matters from the Arts Education Partnership (2018), we know that music education:

• equips students with foundational skills to learn– enhancing motor skills; fostering superior working memory and vocabulary; and cultivating critical thinking
• bolsters student engagement and achievement in other academic subjects– advancing match achievement; boosting proficiency in writing, English Language Arts, and second languages; and impacting positive engagement in school
• develops the abilities essential for lifelong success– sharpening attentiveness; strengthening perseverance; equipping students to be creative; and supporting self-esteem and social and cultural identities

Music also connects us – to our individual, unique voices and our collective potential; to our capacity to make meaningful, powerful work with others; and to the legacy of a community whose deep history of musical innovation and education has shaped music worldwide.

Students in New Orleans and across Louisiana need to understand that they are a part of this rich legacy, and that their impact can be as great.