Movable Type Issue No. 11: Sound Impact in Action

“Music is life. Music is hope. I cannot ask for more.” – David Arben, Holocaust Survivor and Former Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra

In 2012, Sound Impact co-founders Danielle Cho, Rebecca Jackson and Tiffany Richardson presented a performance of “Haim” by Polina Nazaykinskaya in the Washington DC region. This chamber work, inspired by the life of David Arben, Holocaust survivor and former Associate Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra elicited an overwhelming response for both performers and audience. The musical storytelling experience and human connection garnered through the performance ignited a desire in these women to use music as a catalyst for change.  

Since its inception in 2013, Sound Impact’s collective of musicians has been dedicated to bringing high-calibre music beyond the concert hall to connect, engage and empower young people. Through the lens of storytelling, Sound Impact brings unique performances and innovative education programs to schools, juvenile detention centers, international communities as well as venues like the Kennedy Center and Mount Vernon, reaching over 10,000 people annually. Sound Impact also leads a cultural exchange initiative that enables young musicians from Central America the opportunity to attend prestigious music festivals in the US. The global pandemic inspired Sound Impact to create digital and virtual programs and resources that became a necessity for schools and teachers, Sound Impact’s digital series “Time Travel Goes Digital” was broadcast throughout the DC area on public television channels, making exceptional and educational storytelling accessible to everyone.

From Sound Impact’s digital series “Time Travel Goes Digital” to our mainstage concerts, we center storytelling to elevate and celebrate musical voices from around the globe. Storytelling allows us to engage people of all ages with a diverse canon of composers and musical styles, while taking our listeners and young creatives on a fun and educational musical experience.