SECOND LINE ARTS COLLECTIVE
spotlight
CELEBRATES A DECADE OF HELPING YOUNG NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS THRIVE
BY MADELINE PISTORIUS
N ew Orleans has no shortage of isn’t enough to build a career. Skills that are rarely taught in traditional music education are vital to a young performer’s path to success. As the nonprofit marks its 10th anniversary, Second Line Arts Collective talented young musicians. But in today’s music industry, talent alone continues to bridge the gap between music education and the business training needed for artist sustainability. As executive director and co-founder Gregory Agid began his own music career, he realized traditional music education teaches performance but lacks entrepreneurship lessons, especially in today’s music industry. He explains that artists now have to manage branding, marketing, accounting, social media, booking gigs, and finances. “You’re not only an artist, but you’re responsible for every aspect of your business. You’re essentially a small business owner,” Agid says. Throughout the year, Agid, musical instructors, and special guests lead family classes, workshops, concerts, and activities. The Saana Music Summer Workshop, in particular, is a major display of the nonprofit’s mission. Around 34 students, ages 14–24, rehearse in six student-led ensembles, selecting repertoire, arranging original music,
and learning to perform together as working bands with coaching from teaching artists.
“It’s meaningful to see people who’ve come through the program, thriving in life and being so appreciative of the experience.” The nonprofit’s impact begins even earlier through Little Stompers, an interactive music program focused on families with children ages one to five. The classes introduce New Orleans culture through singing, dancing, and hands-on musical exploration while giving graduates of the workshop teaching opportunities of their own. Reflecting on the 10th anniversary, Agid says the milestone is a reminder of the organization’s lasting impact. By helping the next generation of artists share their passion with the world while teaching them how to navigate the business side of music, he believes they’re making a difference. He also hopes to help ensure New Orleans artists receive the recognition and economic opportunities they deserve for their contributions to American music. “If we can get these artists to buy houses in New Orleans and have families and feel comfortable calling this home and still be able to make music…that’s the biggest win.”
The workshop then shifts from artistry to entrepreneurship through a rotating series of masterclasses led by experienced professionals. Everything from filing taxes and understanding W-9s to forming an LLC, marketing a band, booking gigs, hiring a publicist and even developing stage presence through improv are taught to students. As the organization has grown, so has its culture, with many students returning year after year. Agid recalls one student who arrived overwhelmed, convinced she couldn’t keep up. After breaking down in tears on her second day of camp, she nearly quit. Three years later, she’s one of the workshop’s biggest advocates. “I believe in challenging kids in a supportive environment where they’re safe to make mistakes,” explains Agid. “That’s how they push themselves to become their best.” Agid says witnessing the success of the program’s alumni brings him the most joy. He points to one alumnus, now an in-demand drummer performing on arena tours, as an example of the program’s lasting impact.
To learn more about Second Line Arts Collective, visit secondlinearts.com.
10 AUGUST 2026 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker