ELM’s vision for the next decade is to create a multi-cultural hub of excellence in the heart of the Canal community where children families of many cultural traditions receive world-class classical instrumental ensemble music instruction and performance opportunities and musical repertoire that reflects the diversity of our students’ cultures and community. We will come together as ensembles to guide our students to develop skills as musicians, scholars, and leaders.

We have come a long way from the days of passion over planning, although the passion has never been more ardent, the need never so great, the potential never so attainable. Having completed our first strategic plan in 2019 – which resulted in the growth in number of students, addition of a wind and brass program, growth in our infrastructure, a development plan, and our first ‘home’, we are poised to envision our next 5 years of growth.

Enriching Lives through Music provides youth with an immersive music education that empowers them to pursue their dreams and access resources they need to succeed in life.

Even before Covid changed our reality, ELM initiated a strategic planning process - to propel us into our second decade as a nonprofit. We revised our mission statement, clarified our values, and set ambitious goals.

ELM is dedicated to creating a diverse musical pathway that reflects our students cultures and community. Each ELM student will travel through this pathway from entry through graduation from the program.

• Create a sequential music education program for all ELM students

• Support a musical repertoire that reflects our students' cultures and community

• Grow our orchestral model to promote a seamless transition through three levels of orchestra

• Provide a pathway for highly motivated students to excel musically

• Motivate high school students to continue in ELM through high school graduation

• Determine criteria for musical advancement

• Increase diversity of artistic leadership and repertoire

• Develop curriculum for highly-motivated students

• Create an engagement plan for high school students