COMMUNITY IMPACT PROJECT INCUBATOR
Community Impact Project Incubator is a vital pillar of CAG’s Citizen Musician Training. Through it, artists explore new ways to create positive community impact beyond the concert stage.
Throughout this program, CAG roster musicians:
Identify community needs
Transform these needs into projects
Receive curated mentorship from industry professionals
Pitch their project for funding
Launch their project
Network for social impact
After participating in the incubator, artists apply the knowledge and skills acquired to write and pitch an implementation plan for a high-impact artistic project before a panel of experts.
2025 Shark Tank pitch winner, bassoonist Eleni Katz
AWARDS & PRIZES
Cohort members who excel in the learning process will have access to the following opportunities:
Participation at Chamber Music America’s national conference
2025 CMA Shark Tank pitch winner, bassoonist Eleni Katz
Project: Reed Me —a collaboration with rural schools to provide reeds, equipment, and mentorship to beginning bassoonists
$5,000 Weissberg Prize for project implementation
2025 winner, pianist Wynona Wang
Project: Bridges of Sound — a series of concert and community engagement experiences tailored to help mitigate the effects of social isolation on NYC’s immigrants
2024 winner, conductor Kyle Dickson
Project: MUSIC REPRESENTS — a live concert experience featuring a dynamic, newly commissioned work for chamber ensemble and narrator celebrating the captivating stories of influential black composers.
Meet the 2026 Cohort
Previous Participants & Faculty
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Participating Artists
Empire Wild, cello duo
Adam W. Sadberry, flutist
Eleni Katz, bassonist
Nathan Meltzer, violinist
ArcoStrum, string duo
Balourdet Quartet, string quartet
Chromic Duo, toy piano duo
Nathan Amaral, violinist
Wynona Wang, pianist
Program Faculty
Jessica Phillips, Faculty Co-Lead
Metropolitan Opera, The Juilliard SchoolDrew A. Forde
Violist, EntrepreneurMonica Ellis
Imani Winds, Manhattan School of MusicToyin Spellman-Díaz
Imani Winds, MannesTom Cabaniss
The Juilliard SchoolStanford Thompson
Executive Director - Equity ArcMichael McRay
Author, Storytelling CoachFelipe Orduz
Entrepreneurship Coach - GLIJanet Fischer
CEO - Live Music Now (UK)
Thank you to the inaugural CMA Shark Tank panel for invaluable feedback:
Kevin Kwan Loucks
CEO - Chamber Music AmericaDanielle Hahn
Head of Music Programs - National Gallery of Art in Washington, DCAndrew Lane
Vice President of Touring and Artist Management - Curtis Institute of Music
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Participating Artists
Kyle Dickson, conductor
Evren Ozel, piano
Michelle Di Russo, conductor
Adam W. Sadberry, flute
Program Faculty
Pedja Mužijević
Artistic Administrator - Baryshnikov Arts Center
Artistic Advisor - Tippet Rise Arts CenterTom Novak
Director of Artistic Planning - Chamber Music Society of Lincoln CenterEric Oberstein
Managing Director - Harlem StageKatelyn Simone
Writer, Fundraiser, Consultant, Katelyn Simone CopywritingLisa Williams
Managing Director Goldman Sachs - Strategy InvestmentEd Yim
Chief Content Officer and Senior Vice President - WQXRNathaniel Zeisler
Provost - The Colburn School
“Through the Community Impact Project Incubator, I’ve been able to expand my vision of my potential, enhance the impact of my coaching business, and evolve my sense of interconnectivity. I’m very grateful for this unique and highly-valuable training!”
– Adam W. Sadberry, CAG Artist
Program Highlights
2024 Weissberg Prize winner conductor Kyle Dickson discusses the inspiration behind MUSIC REPRESENTS.
– Jessica Phillips, alumna of the MBA program at the Global Leaders Institute and Clarinetist the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra