BANDING TOGETHER
Our mission is to promote wellness within underserved Chicago communities by providing lasting access to exceptional performing arts instruction.
OUR STORY
Founded in the Fall of 2013 by Annie Palomino, BandWith is a Chicago-based non-profit organization whose mission is to promote wellness for Chicago youth through lasting access to high quality performing arts instruction.
Since our founding in 2013, BandWith has connected over 700 young people ages 5-21 with outstanding arts instructors and mentors, and provided them with the performance opportunities and support they need to be successful. In a moment when youth are growing more isolated, making music allows immediate and long-term connection with others. We see this connectedness everyday in our band, drumline, choral and dance ensembles.
Executive Director Annie Palomino launched BandWith Chicago in 2013 when the band program was dropped from LEARN Campbell Charter School in East Garfield Park due to budget cuts. Starting a nonprofit allowed Annie to continue providing free music instruction within LEARN Charter, and expand into after school programming. Since then, BandWith has developed into a stable, independent organization that offers individual and small group music instruction, weekly ensemble play, and performance opportunities to participating youth throughout the year. BandWith’s free in-school and after-school programs serve 185 students annually and are still located within the East Garfield Park community.
In fulfillment of our commitment to our community, BandWith has purchased a neglected building in East Garfield Park—just down the street from LEARN—and is in the process of transforming it into a state-of-the-art performing arts center. Housing our free dance, drumline, sound engineering, instrumental and choral ensemble programs, we envision a space for many more students to grow as people and as performers, for young adults to receive job-training and meaningful employment, for the community to gather and experience art. We are currently undergoing renovations on the building and expect to be able to move into the space in Fall of 2025.
BandWith Music Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Our EIN number will be provided upon request.
