Educational Outreach

*Sojourner is now a 501c3 Not -for- Profit Organization.

We have taken this important step to help us widen our educational reach.

Sojourner is committed to the continuum of African American Heritage through the art of string playing.

Mission Statement

Sojourner is a women’s collective dedicated to nurturing the art of string playing through the African American experience. Committed to educating audiences, particularly children and college students in urban communities, Sojourner presents performances & workshops throughout the United States and abroad.

The group’s members respectively possess degrees in music from The University of Michigan, Manhattan School of Music and Queens College. Collectively, they have performed with the New Jersey Symphony, Savannah Symphony, Alabama Symphony and the Brooklyn Philharmonic.

As composers and arrangers, their performances encompass genres ranging from Jazz to Hip Hop. Sojourner has also premiered new works by esteemed composers such as Professor Richard Harper of the New School/Mannes Jazz program.

* Sojourner has also created a library of new works for strings and mixed ensembles as well as heritage merchandise that is available through the "Sojourner Arts Collective."

"Vocal String" Workshop featuring Richard Harper

Workshops

Sojourner’s programs for students are presented in 45 minute segments; encouraging students to interact and share their experiences while learning historical facts, music appreciation and string technique.

"Shake, Rattle & Roll!" - Grade: Elementary, Middle School or family series.

"A Musical Journey from Spirituals to Hip-Hop" - Grade: All ages.

"Sojourner loves Dance!" - Grade: Students of dance and theater.

"Pen & Baton" - Grade: Middle School-College level beginners.

"Sojourner’s Jam!" - Grade: Music student interview required.

Sojourner proudly presented educational performance workshops throughout NYC in 2008 as a part of the "Education Through Music Inc." educational outreach program:

2.8.08- PS. 3 - Brooklyn

3.7.08- School of the Blessed Sacrament - Manhattan

3.11.08- Mt. Carmel-Holy Rosary School - Manhattan

3.14.08- PS. 68 - The Bronx

The group was also proud to to present educational performance workshops in conjunction with many other prominent institutions throughout the tri-state area:

5. 2. 08- Hunter College Elementary School - Manhattan

5 .19. 08- Joseph Soehl Middle School - Linden, NJ

5. 21.08- PS. 56 - Brooklyn (Sponsored by the Noel Pointer Foundation)

6. 2. 08 - PS. 249 - Brooklyn