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.  We formed a board of directors and incorporated. 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 IPS School 87 George Washington Carver Montessori, with forty students (2nd-5th grade) meeting twice weekly after school. In 2023, we expanded our afterschool program to IPS School 96 Meredith Nicholson School in 2023 and also began a program of summer classes through Indy Parks.

In 2023-2024, we expanded the board of directors and created our first (part-time) 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 2024 summer through Indy Parks, Christ Church Cathedral’s Joyful Noise camp, and two age groups with La Plaza Indy.

The 2025-2026 year expanded our summer programming to two Indy Parks youth camp sites and continued our partnership with La Plaza Indy’s Summer Discovery camp, serving over 150 youth. Our school year programs nurtured over 200 students at schools including IPS 87 George Washington Carver Montessori (ukulele and rhythm), IPS 31 James A. Garfield (ukulele), IPS 43 James Whitcomb Riley (ukulele), IPS 74 Theodore Potter Dual Language (grades K-2 music explorers), and Enlace Academy (middle school Mariachi guitar and trumpet).

2026-2027 saw our summer programs expand to seven sites providing musical community for almost 200 youth. School year programs will add a Mariachi Ensemble at IPS 74, a new Woodwind Explorers ensemble at Enlace Academy, and a new Choir at Monarca Academy. We will continue making music with another 300+ students at IPS 87 (rhythm and ukulele), IPS 43 (ukulele), IPS 74 (Mariachi and music explorers), IPS 43 (ukulele).

Instruction and instruments are free for all students. More than 80% of our students have never had the chance to learn to play an instrument before ESI. Three quarters of our students identify as BIPOC.