A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO AND THE BOARD CHAIR
In 2022-23 Capital Harmony Works (CHW) found its footing as a complete, fully engaged organization. Staff, students, and families worked hard to integrate all of our programming and it showed in our performances and achievements! We remain enormously grateful for the support of our many constituents, friends, donors, and the public and private organizations that have invested in Trenton’s young people through our creative youth development programs. The impact of your gifts is evident in the music and smiles of our students. Thank you!
The merging of Trenton Children’s Chorus, Trenton Music Makers, and Music for the Very Young was completed in February 2022. We owe a debt of gratitude to the many supporters, friends, staff, and Board members who acted upon their vision for a united music program to inspire our students through powerfully connected programs. Leading this work was Carol Burden, President & CEO since 2015 who moved on from her position at CHW in July 2023 to new beginnings in NYC. While here in Trenton, Carol fostered key relationships in Trenton, its surrounding region, and nationwide. These partnerships expanded our influence in education, performing arts, government, philanthropic, and corporate sectors. Carol and the Board developed the staff composition into a cultural profile that better reflects the youth in Capital Harmony Works’ programs. Under her leadership, CHW collaborated with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation to establish evaluations that measure the impact of Trenton Music Makers’ work, a system now being used to evaluate programs in El Sistema- inspired organizations throughout New Jersey. She and the Board navigated the organization safely through the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns then soon after, led the organization’s rebrand efforts and renaming to reflect our fully ensemble-based model. In short, the impact of Carol’s work is tremendous! The 2022 Capital Harmony Works Strategy Framework (www.capitalharmony.works/our-vision) was implemented this year into our programs and used as a reference point for key decisions. Our newly merged organization offers an inclusive afterschool chorus, an intensive afterschool orchestra, and universal grounding in musicianship and expressivity for preschool children, and we are positioned to have a greater and more lasting impact than ever. Our organization’s focus on students’ musical growth and application of a sustainable business model has been at the core of our success. Student enrollment increased as much as 52%, access for Trenton-based families was our priority in recruitment, and our diverse Board led the organization’s forward direction. Capital Harmony Works now stands on firm footing. The success of Capital Harmony Works rests on the efforts, care, and responsibility of this community. Our programs are tuition-free to all students which means every gift of time and treasure matters. Whether you are a donor, friend, audience member, volunteer, parent, student, or Board member, your care is the foundation of our success with students. As we watch our young performers on stage, you are encouraged you to imagine where these kids may be if they were not here. And let’s imagine together where they may be in future years BECAUSE they have grown with us at Capital Harmony Works. This Annual Report includes not only news of the past year, but also a look forward to the work ahead. Our new President & CEO, Paul Chapin comes to CHW with a rich history of accomplishments in the music and education fields. The connections he has built over time throughout Mercer County and New Jersey will help drive the communications and development of new supporters while his passion for youth development will attract new students and families. Our programs are growing with innovative opportunities for performance and new ensembles led by our most skilled students. The coming year promises exciting experiences for our audience, our donors, and most importantly, our students. With our gratitude, John Hart, Board Chair and Paul Chapin, CEO
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