A Brief History of El Sistema Indy

El Sistema Indianapolis was founded in 2018 by David Mason, a retired Butler University professor who was inspired by the story of the international El Sistema movement of “effecting social change through music for children with the fewest resources and the greatest need.”  El Sistema originated in Venezuela, and had spread globally, including throughout the U.S., but there was no such program in central Indiana.

In exploring that idea with music educators in Indianapolis, David met Carter Bell, a music teacher at IPS 87, and in 2019 they began planning for a pilot after-school program at Carter’s school.  They began raising funds, mostly through individual donations, and at the end of the year received a grant from the Broad Ripple Kiwanis that allowed the purchase of ukuleles to begin the program.

The covid pandemic caused us to postpone the pilot, and then to launch it as an online-only program in the fall of 2020. By then, the group was joined by Katie McDermitt Blandford, a flutist and music teacher who had herself studied El Sistema in Venezuela.  We formed a board of directors and incorporated, and Katie became our board president.

In 2021, we received federal 501c3 status; won small grants from two more foundations; hired instructors; and began after-school in-person ensemble ukulele instruction with 40 2nd-5th graders at IPS 87.  El Sistema Indianapolis was on its way!

In 2021-2022, we launched an in-person program at School 87, with forty students (2nd-5th grade) meeting twice weekly after school. In 2023, we expanded our afterschool program to IPS School 96 in 2023 and also began a program of summer program through Indy Parks.

In 2023-2024, we expanded the board of directors and created our first staff position for the Director. Ukulele after school programs and summer programs continued to thrive in 2024-2025, serving over 75 IPS students and over 100 youth during the summer. Instruction and instruments are free for all students. Three quarters of the students are Black or Hispanic.

Funding and Support

El Sistema Indianapolis has received grants from the Sheila Fortune Foundation, the Indianapolis Foundation (through CICF), the Lumina Foundation, the Gannett Foundation, the Indianapolis Star, the Indy Arts Council, the Glick Fund, and the Lilly Endowment, among others. We have partnerships with Christ Church Cathedral and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. We welcome individual and corporate donations as well.

Great article pp. 29-30 of @indyfareastmag: https://indyfareastmag.com/magazines/april-vol-3-issue-12/ We are collaborating with La Plaza Indy to offer ukulele lessons during the Summer Discovery camps. Sign up: https://www.laplazaindy.org/sd/.
Great article pp. 29-30 of @indyfareastmag: https://indyfareastmag.com/magazines/april-vol-3-issue-12/ We are collaborating with La Plaza Indy to offer ukulele lessons during the Summer Discovery camps. Sign up: https://www.laplazaindy.org/sd/.
Our ukulele stars played so well at the end of year concert at IPS 87 George Washington Carver Montessori! Here's a little clip from "You Are My Sunshine"
Great article pp. 29-30 of @indyfareastmag: https://indyfareastmag.com/magazines/april-vol-3-issue-12/ We are collaborating with La Plaza Indy to offer ukulele lessons during the Summer Discovery camps. Sign up: https://www.laplazaindy.org/sd/.
Our ukulele stars played so well at the end of year concert at IPS 87 George Washington Carver Montessori! Here's a little clip from "You Are My Sunshine"

Funders and Partners