Community Impact Grant Winners 2025

Across the country, pianists are using their art to build connection, inclusion, and opportunity. These four projects—by Kelly Hooper, Zaiba Sheikh, Penny Lazarus, and Raphaelita Justice—show how community impact begins with creativity and compassion, inspiring others to design meaningful initiatives that make music accessible for all.

Kelly Hooper: Free-To-Be

Kelly Hooper’s Free-To-Be recital reimagines what a piano performance can look and feel like. This inclusive showcase alters the formality of the typical recital, instead creating a safe, supportive space for every participant. Audience members can sit wherever they feel comfortable and respond freely to the music, while performers enjoy a flexible format that honors their individual needs.

The event’s open-door policy allows anyone to step in or out, easing anxiety for those who are neurodivergent. To ensure thoughtful implementation, the CMS teaching team will receive training in communicating with and supporting neurodivergent populations. Students will also have opportunities to visit the recital space beforehand, exploring the piano and environment at their own pace.

By making room for flexibility and empathy, Free-To-Be celebrates authentic musical expression in a reimagined setting. This innovative format reminds us that musical growth thrives in spaces where everyone truly feels free to be themselves.

Zaiba Sheikh: The Community Piano Lab

Zaiba Sheikh’s Community Piano Lab bridges two important gaps—access to music for at-risk youth and professional development for aspiring piano teachers. This summer pilot program will take place at the Unique Caring Foundation’s foster-care day support center, where interns will teach individual piano lessons to children ages 7–18.

The Foundation, which already provides critical life-skills and academic support, sees music as a powerful addition to its summer offerings. Early-career pianists, especially those from two-year college programs, will gain guided teaching experience under a mentor’s supervision, while students benefit from personalized music instruction in a nurturing setting.

Each intern will teach four students per week, collaborate in weekly team meetings, and receive mentorship to help refine lesson planning and communication skills. At the end of each session, both interns and students will be assessed to measure learning outcomes and program impact.

This pilot aims to grow into a sustainable partnership between arts educators and community organizations, creating a model where piano teaching not only builds musicianship but also fosters connection, empathy, and opportunity across generations.

Penny Lazarus: Fun Friday with ESOL Students

At Penny Lazarus Piano Studio in Lowell, Massachusetts, music is a bridge between cultures. Partnering with the International Institute of New England (IINE), Penny Lazarus is launching a Fun Friday event to connect her students with refugees and immigrants enrolled in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes.

This collaboration serves three powerful goals: fostering cultural understanding, deepening piano students’ engagement with diverse musical traditions, and helping newcomers practice conversational English through joyful singing. Within a project-based curriculum, students study and perform music from countries such as Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, and Ukraine, broadening both empathy and repertoire.

The Fun Friday gathering will transform the ESOL classroom—complete with its acoustic piano—into a space for collaborative music-making, shared meals, and intercultural friendship. Piano students will accompany songs, strengthening their aural and ensemble skills while supporting others’ language learning in a safe, celebratory atmosphere.

With the help of a Community Impact Grant, this initiative turns a simple idea—singing together—into a profound act of connection and understanding.

Raphaelita Justice: Group Piano Lessons at Pottstown Library

Raphaelita Justice’s Group Piano Lessons at Pottstown Library brings free, accessible music education to the heart of the community. Through monthly group piano classes for children and adults, this project transforms a public library into a hub of creativity, learning, and connection.

These open, beginner-friendly sessions welcome anyone interested in exploring the piano—no prior experience required. For participants eager to dive deeper, the program also offers 6-week seasonal group courses that use interactive materials and technology to strengthen musical skills.

To ensure continued access and growth, the Muse Piano Academy scholarship—developed in partnership with the Music Link Foundation—will make private lessons affordable for students ready to advance further. The project even provides digital pianos for free 15-minute practice slots, allowing learners without instruments at home to continue practicing regularly.

By situating piano learning within a trusted community space, Justice’s initiative removes financial and psychological barriers, proving that music education can be truly inclusive. Group Piano Lessons at Pottstown Library reminds us that when piano learning is accessible to everyone, the entire community benefits.

Interested in learning more about how you can innovate in your community to make a difference? Join our upcoming webinar “Innovation – Understanding Our Communities and Their Needs” on Friday, November 7, 2025 at 11:00AM ET. Learn more and register here: https://pianoinspires.com/webinar/understanding-our-communities-and-their-needs/.