We are excited to share an interview with Marisa Bushman, Executive Director, violinist, and founding member of Agarita Chamber Players. Agarita engages the local community through artistic collaborations, education, community engagement, and free, adventurous programming. Through the Agarita Inspires! program, its mission is extended to programs that serve youth with limited access to arts and education. Agarita is our Arts and Culture Support Grant recipient.
Tell us about your organization
Agarita is a San Antonio–based performing arts institution dedicated to connecting people through bold, high-quality musical experiences. Through performances, commissions, recordings, and education initiatives, we bring classical music into meaningful dialogue with our community. Our education arm, Agarita Inspires!, extends this mission through interactive programs that serve youth with limited access to arts education.
How does this project help the community?
Our work builds connection, creativity, and access. Through concerts and Agarita Inspires! programs, we create welcoming entry points into the arts, foster curiosity and emotional expression, and support the creative economy by partnering with composers, artists, and educators. These projects strengthen San Antonio’s cultural ecosystem while ensuring that inspiring musical experiences are accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds.
What is coming up that you want to tell Impact San Antonio?
April is a busy month for Agarita! A list of all of our upcoming FREE events can be found at agarita.org/2526.
Our Loft in Southtown is bustling: April 15: Loft Lecture led by Daniel Anastasio; April 22 and 23: Dvorak Piano Quintet, featuring Agarita and guest violinist Suliman Tekalli; April 30 and May 1: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (silent film with live music by Agarita).
We are also visiting five Districts with our mobile concert hall, the Humble Hall. April 18: Fiesta de los Niños at Port Tech and McAllister Park; April 25 for the King William Fair and United Way’s KidsFest.
How do you feel about Impact San Antonio and what they do for our community?
We deeply admire Impact San Antonio’s commitment to thoughtful, collective philanthropy. Their model empowers women to invest strategically in organizations that create lasting change, and their support strengthens the fabric of our city. We see Impact San Antonio as true partners in building a more connected, creative, and vibrant San Antonio.
