THE CENTER PROJECT
BandWith’s free performing arts programs have moved into a permanent home, launching youth & adult community programs in Spring 2026. Through a generous gift from the Glasser & Rosenthal families, BandWith purchased a 25,000 sq. ft. building in East Garfield Park. However, we need your help to complete the project!
2022
Capital Campaign Launched
BandWith kicked off fundraising efforts to build a permanent performing arts center in East Garfield Park.
2023
$8M+ Raised for the Project
Thanks to incredible donors—including the Glasser & Rosenthal families. BandWith secured over $8 million to make the dream real.
2024
Groundbreaking Ceremony
Shovels hit the ground as construction officially began at the new 25,000 sq. ft. home just blocks from our original program site.
2025
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Progress moved fast. We cut the ribbon on our new Performing Arts Center & Community Hub, celebrating this historic milestone with over 300 people!
SPRING 2026
YOUTH & ADULT PROGRAMS LAUNCH
Our new Performing Arts Center & Community Hub expanded youth programming and launched adult community programs in February, where generations on the West Side will have opportunities to create, express themselves, and grow through arts programs!
KEY MILESTONES
BUILDING OUR FUTURE
TITAN BAND
Instruments | Ensemble Play | Community Performances
With the modern band approach, Titan Band teaches students how to play, improvise, and perform on their instruments. Students dive into genres such as rock, pop, Latin, rap, R&B, country, jazz, and more—encouraging them to start making music from day one. Youth of all backgrounds and experience levels find the Titan Band approach engaging, fun, and inspiring. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th to 8th grade.
DRUMLINE 101
Percussion | Teamwork | High-Energy Performances
Explore this exciting drumline ensemble designed for beginners. Participants are introduced to essential snare drum techniques and rhythm skills commonly used to develop a foundational drumline program. Participants will start making music right away, engaging with a variety of drum and percussion instruments to create rhythms while developing coordination and ensemble skills. Over the course of the program, they will gain hands-on experience with snare drum and rhythm fundamentals, all while collaborating with peers in a supportive group setting. This ensemble is open to youth in 3rd grade to 4th grade.
DRUMLINE 102
Percussion | Teamwork | High-Energy Performances
Step into the energy and tradition of the drumline! This ensemble gives students the opportunity to become active members of a performing drumline while building musical skills, discipline, and teamwork. Participants will strengthen their rhythmic accuracy, coordination, and ensemble awareness through engaging group rehearsals and performance experiences. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th grade to 8th grade. All participants will learn to play a range of battery percussion instruments and will be expected to demonstrate competency on snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, and other core elements of the drumline.
JAZZ & HIPHOP I
Dance | Movement | Performance Arts
This is a high-energy class that builds technique, rhythm, and style while strengthening flexibility, body awareness, and overall fitness. Dancers focus on clean lines, turns, jumps, kicks, and leaps, while also learning fun, trendy steps that are used across many styles of dance. This program offers a well-rounded foundation for all dancers, making it the perfect ensemble for youth in 3rd grade to 4th grade to begin their dance journey.
JAZZ & HIPHOP II
Dance | Movement | Performance Arts
Ready to take your dancing to the next level? Jazz & Hip Hop II build on the basics and introduce dancers to more challenging combinations, powerful leaps, sharp turns, and stylized progressions. With upbeat popular music and high-energy choreography, dancers will strengthen their precision, flexibility, and technique while exploring isolations, musicality, and coordination. This class is all about growing your skills, building confidence, and having a blast while you dance! This ensemble is open to youth in 5th grade to 8th grade.
CHOIR: EMERGING VOICES
Music Production | Mixing & Mastering | Industry Skills
Sing, learn, and perform! This ensemble builds vocal skills and explores songs in many styles. Youth gain confidence, technique, and the joy of making music together. This ensemble is open to youth in 5th to 8th grade.
CHOIR: DEVELOPING VOICES
Music Production | Mixing & Mastering | Industry Skills
Developing Voices is a welcoming space where youth in 3rd and 4th grade can discover the joy of singing, build confidence, and grow as part of a supportive team. Through engaging rehearsals and exciting performances, choir members strengthen their musical skills, learn the value of collaboration, and experience the thrill of making music together.
SCROLL RIGHT ➟
800+
students learning, creating, and performing each year.
$13.5M+
raised for our new building project
13+
years of empowering youth through music and movement.
50+
live performances each year at schools, festivals, and city events.
15,000+
hours of music and arts instruction delivered.
hear it from our students
What BandWith does goes beyond music.
These are the voices of parents, students, and supporters who’ve felt the difference firsthand.
"BandWith feels like family. It’s helped me express myself through dance and become
more confident in who I am."
Jaliyah, Choir & Dance
“BandWith’s after school program takes me back to when I was young and we had programs and people who cared about the well-being of the kids. With programs like BandWith, youth throughout Chicago can see their
potential and value.”
Bernetta Smith, BandWith parent
“I can be having the worst day of my life and when I start dancing, I can feel a weight being lifted...
I feel dancing gives me the freedom to be happy."
Mario, Dance Team
"Music used to be just a hobby , now I see it as my future. BandWith gave me purpose and a path."
Kristian, Drums & Piano
“When I dance with BandWith, I feel free.
It’s like all the stress of the day just melts away.”
Angel, Dance
“Performing at Arts in the Dark was unforgettable — the energy, the crowd,
the pride. I’ll never forget it.”
Nylah, Drumline
UPCOMING EVENTS
JUNE 18, 2026
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
carlos garcia trio
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
BandWith: 148 S. California Avenue
🎶 Summertime, live music, & the incredible artists who inspire our students every day.
Join us for BandWith’s Summer Concert Series—featuring live performances & an opportunity to connect with the musicians who help make our youth & multi-generational programs possible.
June Guests: Carlos Garcia is a jazz pianist, educator, and bandleader based in the greater Chicago area. Born and raised in Wilmington, North Carolina, he earned his music degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He has performed at festivals and venues across North Carolina and Chicago, and is dedicated to sharing jazz through both performance and education.
He draws much of his inspiration from jazz of the 1960s and 1970s. His trio explores repertoire associated with influential artists from that era, including Bobby Hutcherson and Miles Davis, bringing those sounds into a modern piano trio setting.
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JULY 10, 2026
july's First Friday:
dance & LATIN music
Time: 6:00-8:30pm
BandWith: 148 S. California Avenue
Once a month on the first Friday, we bring the community together to celebrate culture, wellness, and creativity. Each gathering features a different genre of music, free dance classes, & live music provided by local Chicago artists.
July Guests: Flaco Navaja is a singer, poet, writer, and actor who was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. For 25 years he has established himself as a prominent voice of Puerto Rican Diaspora and has graced acclaimed theater stages.
Rebekah Marcano Lopez grew up in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, where movement and Latin music were a constant part of life. Guided by her motto, “Movement should make you smile,” Rebekah brings joy and accessibility to every class she teaches.
JUly 16, 2026
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
IVAN TAYLOR
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
BandWith: 148 S. California Avenue
🎶 Summertime, live music, & the incredible artists who inspire our students every day.
Join us for BandWith’s Summer Concert Series—featuring live performances & an opportunity to connect with the musicians who help make our youth & multi-generational programs possible.
July Guest: Ivan Taylor has been playing the bass since he was nine years old. He had an illustrious high school career, playing with the Illinois All-State Jazz band, The Grammy Band, and Chicago Jazz masters Von Freeman and Orbert Davis. Ivan was a star performer at the 2002 Essentially Ellington competition where he met Wynton Marsalis. This meeting led him to enroll in the Juilliard School of Music.
Ivan had a strong impact on the New York scene, performing with Rashid Ali, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra, Louis Hayes, Nicholas Payton, Curtis Fuller, Mike Philips, Kenny Garrett, Delfeayo Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Robert Glasper, Take 6, Rodney Jones, Russell Malone, Steve Nelson, Carmen Lundy, Hank Jones, Hal Weary, Cyrus Chestnut, Jonathan Baptiste, Maurice Brown, Diana Ross, KJ Rose, Marly Marl, Chris Madsen, Jennifer Sloan, Tia Fuller, Shamie Royston and many others. He has studied with Ben Wolfe and continues to study with Ron Carter.
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AUGUST 20, 2026
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES:
ERIICK STARR
Time: 6:30-8:00pm
BandWith: 148 S. California Avenue
🎶 Summertime, live music, & the incredible artists who inspire our students every day.
Join us for BandWith’s Summer Concert Series—featuring live performances & an opportunity to connect with the musicians who help make our youth & multi-generational programs possible.
August Guest: Eriick Starr is a young, charismatic bandleader from Detroit Michigan. Starr is an especially gifted singer, keyboardist, songwriter, composer and arranger; for years he has trained in jazz, gospel, and pop styles which all come together to create his masterfully nostalgic yet authentically original sound. He has also performed with such Grammy Award winning artists as Paula Cole, Diane Warren, and Cory Henry.
Performing professionally since age 19, Starr has had the pleasure to share the awesome experience of his work on many stages throughout the Midwest from local night clubs to places such as the historic Chicago Theatre, and House of Blues to name a few; he has also enjoyed success performing to international audiences in Europe.
