Events
El Sistema USA 2024 National Symposium June 13-15, 2024

El Sistema USA® is proud to announce that we will host the 2024 National Symposium in partnership with Butler University from June 13-15, 2024. Save the date, more information to come.
El Sistema USA’s 2024 National Symposium is a multi-day conference which will provide professional development, resource sharing, networking, and youth leadership opportunities for ESUSA members as well as individuals and partner organizations working in the field of music for social impact and creative youth development. The conference will be hosted in partnership with local arts organizations to highlight community partnerships, collective impact, and youth voice. ESUSA will continue to prioritize youth leadership through the Youth Ambassador Program, where students and alumni will be paid to plan and execute content for both adults and students at the symposium. The event will be made possible in part by a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
This symposium will feature sessions around youth leadership (led by the ESUSA Youth Ambassador Cohort), best practices in equitable and high-quality music training, and organizational capacity building. There will be dedicated time for generative discussions and brainstorming sessions with fellow leaders in the field in addition to curated sessions on our featured topics. ESUSA will continue to prioritize youth leadership and voice through the Youth Ambassador Program, where students and alumni will be paid to plan and execute content for both adults and students at the symposium.
The weekend is designed to provide actionable insights and solutions, equipping you to advance our collective and individual work as a field. Join us in fostering a community of change-makers, where inspiration meets impact.
Inspire | Connect | Transform
Gather inspiration from leaders in the field, connect with colleagues nationally, and return home energized to catalyze positive transformation in the world of equity-based music education.
Registration Pricing
*Early Bird rates end after February 6, 2024
Early Bird* | Regular Price | |
ESUSA Member Teaching Artist | $175 | $225 |
ESUSA Member Administrator | $225 | $275 |
Non-Member | $325 | $375 |
Day Pass | $100 | $150 |
Virtual Pass | $25 | $50 |
Housing Packages
Experience convenience and camaraderie at the El Sistema USA Symposium hosted at Fairview House on Butler’s campus. Your stay includes a private room with a personal bathroom, ensuring a comfortable retreat. Share a spacious living area and kitchenette with three fellow attendees, fostering connections and collaboration. Forget the hassle – linens, including two top sheets, a hand towel, bath towel, pillow, and blanket, are provided.
$110 per night per person
Fairview House
Fairview House Amentities:
- Private bathrooms with double sinks
- Kitchenettes with full size refrigerator and microwave
- Welcome desk and lounge with control desk
- Recreation and gaming lounge
- Second floor balcony overlooking the courtyard
- Media lounge and social space including four TV’s and fireside casual seating
- Business center with print stations and private work space
- Cardio fitness room with modern equipment and workout/yoga space
- Laundry centers on three floors (detergent not provided)
- Outdoor patio
Meal Packages
Butler Dining is run by Bon Appetit Management Company who specializes in scratch-made, simple menu items that represent a balanced plate for the student. Butler Dining offers many locations, from convenient stores and coffee shops to all-you-care-to-eat cafés. Our chefs cook from scratch, focusing on fresh produce, whole grains, and lean and plant-based proteins. You’ll find lots of international food as well as your favorite comfort food, just healthier, and lots of only-in-Indianapolis dishes. No cycle menus or corporate recipes here. And no shortcuts. Food allergies? No problem, we’ve got you covered.
$14 per additional meal (breakfast or dinner)
Parking Packages
Parking information is forthcoming!

El Sistema USA 2023 National Symposium March 9-11, 2023
El Sistema USA® will host an in person symposium March 9-11, 2023 at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana to engage our 140 member organizations which employ 1,500 Teaching Artists and serve 20,000 students nationally. El Sistema USA is the largest and only music education movement in the US to center equity within music education on a systemic level, reimagining the role of music in the lives of youth and their communities.
Why Equity and Excellence?
This year’s theme, Equity and Excellence in Music Education, will focus the conversation around ESUSA’s vision statement – to be a national voice for the intersection of excellence and equity in music education with a focus on student voice. We will explore the many ways in which these two elements work together to create impact and manifest themselves within all areas of programming, from organizational policies, to fundraising, to curriculum. The symposium is an opportunity to drive forward the national conversation and movement around equity and musical excellence, specifically elevating the voices of BIPOC students and leaders. It is a chance for the field to convene and share best practices, receive professional development, program support, and inspiration.
Symposium Highlights

Dr. Bettina L. Love
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bettina L. Love
Dr. Bettina Love will deliver a keynote address on March 9 at 6:00 PM.
Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her writing, research, teaching, and educational advocacy work meet at the intersection of disrupting education reform and strengthening public education through abolitionist teaching, Black joy, and anti-racism. The aim of her scholarship is twofold: firstly, to advance how the field of education understands and critiques school reform and the systemic and structural racism of public education within the U.S.; and secondly, to advocate for abolitionist approaches in the field of education that seek new possibilities for educational justice. In the pursuit of making her scholarship a reality, she works with activists, communities, youth, families, and school districts to build communal, civically-engaged schools rooted in the aspirations of abolitionist strategies that love and affirm Black and Brown children. Towards that end, in 2020, Dr. Love co-founded the Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN). ATN’s mission is to develop and support teachers and parents to fight injustice within their schools and communities. To date, ATN has granted over $160,000 to abolitionists around the country. She is also the creator of the Hip Hop civics curriculum GET FREE. Learn more about Dr. Bettina Love.

Gateways Brass Collective
Musical Guest: Gateways Brass Collective
The Gateways Brass Collective will perform and present at the ESUSA National Symposium on March 11.
Through dynamic performances and inspirational educational programs, the Gateways Brass Collective (GBC) inspires artists and audiences of all backgrounds. Each GBC member’s journey to the stage demonstrates perseverance, a love for the art form, and a genuine interest in paving the way for others to succeed in music. The GBC strives to support diverse communities, encourages everyone to be a part of the larger musical discourse, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with artists from all backgrounds. Learn more about Gateways Brass Collective.
Youth Ambassador Cohort

El Sistema USA Alumni Leader Ebonie

El Sistema USA Alumni Leader Elizabeth
El Sistema USA is proud to announce the launch of the 2023 Youth Ambassador Program. ESUSA will select eight high school youth ambassadors to prepare and present content at the National Symposium. The Youth Ambassador Program will be led by two ESUSA Alumni – Elizabeth Perez-Hickman, Ebonie Pierce, and Daniel Trahey.
Pre-Conference Teacher Training
ESUSA will host teacher training sessions on March 9 with partner organizations.
Indianapolis Public School Teachers to Attend Symposium
This year, Indianapolis Public School teachers are invited to attend the symposium free of charge through partnership with Butler University. This partnership will broaden the audience and increase attendance.