Musicopia (formerly Strings for Schools) was founded in 1974 by a single string quartet that sought to fill the growing voids in music education associated with stringent school budget cuts. The original quartet performed interactive music education assemblies in schools throughout the Delaware Valley region, with the goal of inspiring young people to understand and appreciate classical music. Gradually, a few more ensembles joined these intrepid pioneers. The total number of programs offered annually throughout the 1990s averaged a modest 90, with total annual audiences in the range of 15,000.

In 1999, the organization was re-energized by new leadership with the return of co-founder, Welthie Fitzgerald, and her husband Walter. As we entered the new millennium, the Board of Directors determined that we needed to provide a far broader and deeper array of music education programs to students throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. Starting in 2000, Musicopia expanded its program offerings significantly to include ensembles that represent not only a wide range of instrumentation, but musical styles and traditions from all over the globe. Soon thereafter, we started offering intensive residency programs intended to have a measurable and lasting impact on student learning. We also began offering community concerts that give students the chance to perform in public alongside our professional musicians. These concerts also serve to encourage parents and community leaders to support music education, both locally and beyond. Finally, Musicopia began establishing long-term, out-of-school performing ensembles for students who lack opportunities for both performance and for private study.

Since 2003, Musicopia has become the largest outside provider of music education programs on the East Coast, averaging over 700 programs that reach 65,000-90,000 students and their families per year. Currently, nineteen professional ensembles present more than 40 different programs in musical genres that include classical, jazz, Latin, traditional Chinese, African, Brazilian and Middle Eastern, to name a few. Please see the list of Musicians to learn more about our extraordinary Ensembles as well as our full Roster of Artists. Also, visit the Programs and Community sections of our website to read detailed information about our services to schools and communities.