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Serving youth through the power of music & arts

MORE THAN MUSIC

ACCESS. OPPORTUNITY. JOY

East Garfield Park’s future home for creative expression

A HOME FOR THE ARTS

Opening Fall 2025

Help An Emerging Musician Find Their Potential

SPONSOR A STUDENT

GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC

THE BUILDING PROJECT

BandWith’s free performing arts programs will be moving into a permanent home, to open in the fall of 2025. Through a generous gift from the Glasser & Rosenthal families, BandWith was able to purchase a 25,000 sq. ft. building in East Garfield Park. However, we need your help to complete the project! 

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2022

Capital Campaign Launched

BandWith kicked off fundraising efforts to build a permanent performing arts center in East Garfield Park.

2023

$8M+ Raised for the Project

Thanks to incredible donors—including the Glasser & Rosenthal families. BandWith secured over $8 million to make the dream real.

2024

Groundbreaking Ceremony

Shovels hit the ground as construction officially began at the new 25,000 sq. ft. home just blocks from our original program site.

2025

Construction Underway

Progress is moving fast. The space is taking shape; walls, rooms, and performance areas are coming to life.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025

RIBBON CUTTING

Come celebrate BandWith Chicago’s new Performing Arts Center & Community Hub, where generations on the West Side will have opportunities to create, express themselves, and grow through arts programs!

KEY MILESTONES

BUILDING OUR FUTURE

OUR PROGRAMS

Empowering Chicago’s youth through music, dance, and creative expression.

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TITAN BAND

Instruments | Ensemble Play | Community Performances

With the modern band approach, Titan Band teaches students how to play, improvise, and perform on their instruments. Students dive into genres such as rock, pop, Latin, rap, R&B, country, jazz, and more—encouraging them to start making music from day one. Youth of all backgrounds and experience levels find the Titan Band approach engaging, fun, and inspiring. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th to 8th grade.

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DRUMLINE 101

Percussion | Teamwork | High-Energy Performances

Explore this exciting drumline ensemble designed for beginners. Participants are introduced to essential snare drum techniques and rhythm skills commonly used to develop a foundational drumline program. Participants will start making music right away, engaging with a variety of drum and percussion instruments to create rhythms while developing coordination and ensemble skills. Over the course of the program, they will gain hands-on experience with snare drum and rhythm fundamentals, all while collaborating with peers in a supportive group setting. This ensemble is open to youth in 3rd grade to 4th grade.

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DRUMLINE 202

Percussion | Teamwork | High-Energy Performances

Step into the energy and tradition of the drumline! This ensemble gives students the opportunity to become active members of a performing drumline while building musical skills, discipline, and teamwork. Participants will strengthen their rhythmic accuracy, coordination, and ensemble awareness through engaging group rehearsals and performance experiences. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th grade to 8th grade. All participants will learn to play a range of battery percussion instruments and will be expected to demonstrate competency on snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and other core elements of the drumline.

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JAZZ & HIPHOP I

Dance | Movement | Performance Arts

This is a high-energy class that builds technique, rhythm, and style while strengthening flexibility, body awareness, and overall fitness. Dancers focus on clean lines, turns, jumps, kicks, and leaps, while also learning fun, trendy steps that are used across many styles of dance. This program offers a well-rounded foundation for all dancers, making it the perfect ensemble for youth in 3rd grade to 4th grade to begin their dance journey.

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JAZZ & HIPHOP II

Dance | Movement | Performance Arts

Ready to take your dancing to the next level? Jazz & Hip Hop II build on the basics and introduce dancers to more challenging combinations, powerful leaps, sharp turns, and stylized progressions. With upbeat popular music and high-energy choreography, dancers will strengthen their precision, flexibility, and technique while exploring isolations, musicality, and coordination. This class is all about growing your skills, building confidence, and having a blast while you dance! This ensemble is open to youth in 5th grade to 8th grade.

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CHOIR: EMERGING VOICES

Music Production | Mixing & Mastering | Industry Skills

Sing, learn, and perform! This ensemble builds vocal skills and explores songs in many styles. Youth gain confidence, technique, and the joy of making music together. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th to 8th grade.

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CHOIR: DEVELOPING VOICES

Music Production | Mixing & Mastering | Industry Skills

Developing Voices is a welcoming space where youth in 3rd and 4th grade can discover the joy of singing, build confidence, and grow as part of a supportive team. Through engaging rehearsals and exciting performances, choir members strengthen their musical skills, learn the value of collaboration, and experience the thrill of making music together.

SCROLL RIGHT ➟

250+

students learning, creating, and performing each year.

$13.5M+

raised for our new building project

10+

years of empowering youth through music and movement.

50+

live performances each year at schools, festivals, and city events.

10,000+

hours of music and arts instruction delivered.

hear it from our students

What BandWith does goes beyond music.

These are the voices of parents, students, and supporters who’ve felt the difference firsthand.

"BandWith feels like family. It’s helped me express myself through dance and become

more confident in who I am."

Jaliyah, Choir & Dance

“BandWith’s after school program takes me back to when I was young and we had programs and people who cared about the well-being of the kids. With programs like BandWith, youth throughout Chicago can see their
potential and value.”

Bernetta Smith, BandWith parent  

“I can be having the worst day of my life and when I start dancing, I can feel a weight being lifted...

I feel dancing gives me the freedom to be happy."

Mario, Dance Team

"Music used to be just a hobby , now I see it as my future. BandWith gave me purpose and a path."

Kristian, Drums & Piano

“When I dance with BandWith, I feel free.

It’s like all the stress of the day just melts away.”

Angel, Dance

“Performing at Arts in the Dark was unforgettable — the energy, the crowd,

the pride. I’ll never forget it.”

Nylah, Drumline

UPCOMING EVENTS

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November 21, 2025

Ribbon Cutting &

Community Celebration!

Time: 10:30am to 1:00pm
Location: 134 South California Avenue


Join us to celebrate BandWith Chicago’s new Performing Arts Center & Community Hub, where generations on the West Side will have opportunities to create, express themselves, and grow through arts programs!

NEWSLETTERS & ARTICLES

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