Agarita is a piano quartet with a violin, viola, cello, and piano, nourishing the local community through artistic collaborations, education, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. Founded by four musicians rooted in San Antonio, Agarita is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit devoted to reaching new audiences by reinventing the concert experience.
There are 3 branches to Agarita:
- Community Concerts: Agarita works intimately with local artists and institutions of various genres as well as brings in internationally renowned classical music to weave cross-artistic narratives for these large-scale concerts, which are accessible and free of charge to the community, in a bilingual format.
- The Humble Hall: Agarita’s mobile concert hall brings live, world-class, innovative musical performances, free of charge and open to all ages, to San Antonio in an open-air format, eliminating the risk, time, and expense of traveling to a concert hall or venue. Every year, Agarita visits all 10 (school) districts of San Antonio.
- Agarita Inspires!: Provides free music education to students across San Antonio in alignment with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and reinforces what is being taught in the classroom.
Agarita’s goal when applying for a grant from Impact SA in 2023, was to expand Agarita Inspires! from 12,000 to 36,000 students and to include facilities such as Haven for Hope, CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital, Bexar Juvenile Detention Center, and more youth-focused social service organizations. Grant funding would specifically fund the artistic fees. Agarita was honored with a $10,000 support grant from Impact SA to assist with their expansion efforts.
In 2024, Agarita is giving 50+ concerts across the year, including 36 educational programs for more than 15,000 young students— all free of charge.
Agarita is devoted to reaching new audiences by reinventing the concert experience. Agarita fills a crucial gap in San Antonio’s arts community by offering free, accessible, and bilingual performances to children through the Agarita Inspires! music education program. Music education is vital for vulnerable and at-risk children in Title 1 schools, children’s hospitals, juvenile detention centers, homeless shelters, and more. It ensures equal access to a well-rounded education that includes artistic expression. Individuals develop cognitive abilities, emotional well-being, and social skills by engaging in music activities. Music education provides a positive alternative to negative influences, empowering individuals. Investing in music education creates an inclusive and supportive environment, bringing joy, hope, and transformation to the lives of vulnerable populations and enriching the cultural fabric of San Antonio.
Agarita Inspires! is currently thriving in Title 1 schools. Agarita aims to reach 36,000 children in San Antonio Title 1 schools, children’s hospitals, juvenile detention centers, and homeless shelters. Agarita Inspires! aims to introduce youth in San Antonio to collaborative programs to increase access and educational engagement through music. Currently, most students they reach attend Title 1 schools in San Antonio ISD, Northeast ISD, and Northside ISD. Over 80% of the students they reach are Hispanic, 85% are economically disadvantaged, and 25% are bilingual or have limited English proficiency. By expanding, Agarita will reach students from Title 1 schools all over the city and begin partnering with organizations such as Haven for Hope, CHRISTUS Children’s Hospital, and the Bexar Juvenile Detention Center to provide much-needed engagement and interaction with trauma-affected and at-risk children. By including these children in their programming, they have the opportunity to make a positive and productive difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness, illness, and incarceration.
Agarita Inspires! is a simple concept with a significant impact. The program provides innovative music education to 12,000 students each year in Bexar County. Inspires! develops partnerships with local educators to provide programming that works to enhance students’ academic performance and social-emotional learning through music, aligning with TEKS standards the students are currently studying. This program is free to schools and ensures equitable access to music education and live, professional music experiences.
When the program launched in 2022, Agarita developed a 3-year plan to ensure the program’s manageable growth and success. During the spring of 2022, Agarita piloted the program in six Bexar County schools, reaching over 1,800 students. This number increased to 12,000 in FY23, and they expect to double their impact by the end of 2024 to reach 24,000 students. They expect to reach a goal of 36,000 children during the 2024-2025 season in 50 schools and 10 youth-focused service providers.
