Inspire Arts & Music (IAM) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop and “inspire” children, teens, and young adults in the performing arts via scholastic and non-scholastic activities. Beginning as a neighborhood drum and bugle corps in 1940, IAM has evolved into a larger nonprofit servicing over 20,000 students a year. While maintaining our roots in Hyde Park’s historic “Riverside Theatre Building,” IAM’s annual programming creates opportunities in urban music education, scholastic band and choir festivals, and an elite touring ensemble, for students local to Boston and across the United States.

IAM programs serve children and young adults from a diverse range of backgrounds, age, and experience. Our member programs are generally related to performing arts with a focus on music, dance and marching arts. We utilize trained music and movement educators as well as youth/peer leaders to deliver instruction and instill the qualities we seek to instill in our young adults. Our programming includes free grass root music classes for low income children, scholastic performance festivals and coaching clinics, and nationally-recognized competitive touring ensembles. Our programs are based in Boston but draw membership and audiences from across New England and the United States.

Many young people in Boston have little or no access to the arts and music. Every young person should have an education and experience in the arts. IAM seeks to foster and develop confidence, teamwork, discipline, and work ethic by providing children, teenagers, and young adults with performing arts opportunities and education. Grass roots programs in urban neighborhoods not only provide the student with a no-barrier arts experience, but also enrich the community. Our Great East Music Festivals support the scholastic goal and growth of music programs. The Boston Crusaders serve not only as a training ground for future music educators but also build leaders for science, medicine, law, finance, and government. The commonality of all the programs is to create a safe environment, provide quality experience in the arts, build confidence and self-esteem, enrich the community, celebrate diversity and inclusiveness, celebrate the achievements of artists at every level of development, and ultimately help young people reach their full academic and artistic potential.