Welcome to Musical Explorers!

About Musical Explorers

Developed in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute, Musical Explorers connects elementary students to diverse musical communities – whether they are learning in-person or online. A free program, Musical Explorers builds basic music skills as students learn songs from different cultures and reflect on their own communities. After focusing on three musical genres each semester, in-person and digital concerts allow students to “meet” the professional musicians that have guided them on their musical journeys through the Georgia Lowcountry and beyond!

Meet the 2024-25 Artists

American Folk with Kaia

Kaia Kater,
American Folk

Unit 1

Country with Anders

Anders Thomsen,
Country

Unit 2

Jordanian Folk with Farah

Farah Siraj,
Jordanian Folk

Unit 3

Hip Hop with AJ

AJ Kush,
Hip Hop

Unit 4

Indian Classical with Falu

Falu Shah,
Indian Classical

Unit 5

New Orleans Second Line with Victor & Marcella

Victor Sawyer & Marcella Simien,
New Orleans Second Line

Unit 6

About the 2024-25 Season

During the 2024-25 school year, students will explore American folk, country, Jordanian folk, hip hop, Indian classical, and New Orleans second line music. The program is packed with informative lessons, articles and books, supplemental songs and videos, activities, and much more to explore and incorporate into your teaching. Although the curriculum was designed with K-2 students in mind, Musical Explorers provides rich opportunities for musical and cultural exploration and is open to any teacher.

Registration includes…

  • A regular newsletter with extra ideas and tips for incorporating Musical Explorers into your online or in-person classroom
  • Access to an easy-to-use digital curriculum, with multiple videos from each artist
  • Digital professional development modules to guide you through each unit
  • An original live concert featuring all artists (also available digitally on-demand)

Savannah Music Festival provides Musical Explorers at no cost to participants through the generous support of donors and sponsors.

Thank you!

Musical Explorers is sponsored by Robert M. & Diane v.S. Levy.
Musical Explorers is sponsored in part by the Walter G. Canipe Foundation, Marla & Morris Geffen, One Hundred Children’s Foundation, and Johanna Anderson Trueblood Foundation.
Partial support for Musical Explorers is provided by Anonymous, Atlanta Gas Light, International Paper and JCB.
Additional support for Musical Explorers is also provided by The Committee to Elect Nick Palumbo, Joe & Sue Dockman, Georgia Music Foundation, AM Goldkrand, Toby Hollenberg, JCB, Ken & Jackie Sirlin, Mike & Linda Stephens and Walmart #635.


Lead funding for Musical Explorers has been provided by Fund II Foundation, Linda and Earle S. Altman, Carnegie Corporation of New York, and Ralph W. and Leona Kern.
Additional lead funding for Musical Explorers has been graciously provided by JJR Foundation and JMCMRJ Sorrell Foundation.
Additional support has been provided by The Edwin Caplin Foundation and Mr. Chretien Risley, Trustee; Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation; KPMG LLP; and John Morning / Turrell Fund.
Musical Explorers is also made possible, in part, by an endowment gift from The Irene Diamond Fund.

“I have learned so much about music from different cultures and experienced music I knew in a new way. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching this curriculum to my students and watching them fully immerse themselves in the concert experience.” Teacher, Southwest Elementary

Teacher, Southwest Elementary