At Seraphic Fire, we believe that music is more than performance - it is a path to empowerment, creativity, and connection. While we are known for our GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble and acclaimed concert season, a vital part of our nonprofit mission is happening far from the stage, in classrooms and community spaces across Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
Our Education and Outreach programming continues to grow in both reach and impact. Through immersive workshops, mentorship programs, and hands-on experiences, we are creating transformative opportunities for thousands of young people, many of whom have limited access to high-quality arts education.
Reaching Thousands of Students Each Year
This past season, our Seraphic Fire Youth Initiative (SFYI) served 4,203 elementary, middle, and high school students through a comprehensive series of programs. From in-school music workshops exploring Broadway, ballads, folk music, and women in popular music, to our Choral Education Residency offering weekly instruction, every program is designed to inspire creativity, build skills, and foster a lifelong love of music.
At two Miami-Dade elementary schools, students received weekly guidance from a University of Miami Frost School of Music doctoral student, with 100% of participants showing improvement in both music knowledge and peer relational skills. These are real results that reflect the power of consistent, high-quality arts engagement.
Transformative Experiences at World-Class Venues
One of the most unforgettable moments of the season took place on April 14, 2025, when Seraphic Fire presented its culminating Education Concert at the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. The magnitude of the day was inspiring. 40 school buses transported students and chaperones from across the region, and local streets surrounding the Arsht Center were temporarily closed to accommodate the arrival of these students. Inside the concert hall, 1,772 students, chaperones, parents, and invited guests filled the space with energy, excitement, and anticipation. For 90 students from Comstock Elementary and Kendale Lakes Elementary, the experience was even more profound. These young performers, many stepping onto a world-class stage for the first time, had the incredible opportunity to sing side-by-side with the professional Seraphic Fire ensemble.
For every student involved, the day represented far more than a performance. It was the realization of a dream they may not have thought possible, and a moment of hope that showed what can be accomplished with dedication, hard work, and belief in themselves. Performing in one of the finest venues in the country alongside professional artists lit a spark that we hope will carry these students forward, a memory that reminds them that their talents, their voices, and their dreams are worthy of the grandest stages. This education concert was not just a milestone for Seraphic Fire’s outreach efforts, it was a catalyst for building aspirations, creating lasting memories, and opening doors to new possibilities for hundreds of young people across South Florida.
Mentorship at Every Stage
Our commitment to mentorship continued at the high school level with our Annual Masterclass in February 2025, where 60 advanced choral students from Ferguson High School and Hialeah Gardens High School spent a full day working side-by-side with Seraphic Fire artists. The day concluded with a free community concert celebrating their progress and growth. We will welcome an additional 65 advanced high school choral students at the 2nd Annual High School Professional Choral Institute from June 10 -14, 2025. In this program, students will gain musical skills and experience geared toward preparing for the college music admissions process.
At the university level, 20 students from the University of Miami and UCLA performed alongside our ensemble through the Ensemble Artist Program, gaining invaluable professional experience and mentorship that will carry into their future careers.
Meanwhile, our StudentAccess program continued to grow, providing hundreds of free tickets to full-time college students this season, a 6% increase over the year before. Through these programs, we are not only shaping musicians, but building audiences and advocates for the future of the arts.
Help Us Continue This Work
Seraphic Fire’s commitment to youth education is not an add-on. It is at the heart of our mission to inspire, educate, and elevate through music. Every workshop, every concert, and every mentorship opportunity is made possible by people like you — those who believe in the transformative power of music education.
If you believe in creating access to the arts for all students, we invite you to support our education programs. Your gift helps fund in-school instruction, transportation for students, performance opportunities, and life-changing musical experiences. Visit seraphicfire.org/support or call 305-285-9060 to make your contribution today. Together, we can build a future filled with music, hope, and opportunity.
