Berklee City Music Stewards META Fellowship Supporting Massachusetts Music Educators

Berklee City Music Stewards META Fellowship Supporting Massachusetts Music Educators Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 fellowship, which provides mentorship, workshops, and professional development for educators and teaching artists.

March 16, 2026

By

Tori Donahue

Applications are now open for 2026-2027 META fellowships, which provide mentorship, workshops, and professional development for educators and teaching artists.

Image by Elizabeth Friar

2025-2026 META fellowship recipients gather at Berklee for professional development opportunities.

Image by Elizabeth Friar

Berklee City Music is proud to steward the META (Music Educators and Teaching Artists) Fellowship, a legacy initiative that empowers music educators making an impact in communities throughout Massachusetts.

Applications for the 2026-2027 META Fellowship are now open. Learn more and apply by April 10.

Since the launch of the 2025-2026 cohort this past June-the fourth in META Fellowship history and the first to be fully stewarded by Berklee City Music-fellows have been supported through bespoke workshops, interactive site visits, mentorship opportunities, and a yearlong professional development program. The content of these sessions reflect areas of need identified by current participants and past fellows, and focus on building community connection, telling compelling stories through music, and integrating the arts into career-centered training.

Creativity doesn't live in isolation; it grows in community, said Misael Martinez, assistant vice president of education outreach and social entrepreneurship at Berklee. There's a real need right now to support music educators at a time when they're being asked to do more with fewer resources. The META Fellowship is helping to ensure that learners and educators of all ages have what they need to thrive in creative spaces rooted in imagination, care, and possibility.

This year's group of fellows carry experience from a diverse range of backgrounds, from first-year teachers and classroom veterans to out-of-school educators, and have already served a wide spectrum of learning environments, including public schools in Boston, Springfield, and Worcester; private and charter schools in Framingham and Hingham; and community-based organizations such as ZUMIX, the Boston Public Schools Visual and Performing Arts Department, and South Shore Conservatory. Fellows have worked with students and clients in nine districts and municipalities across the state, while exploring shared challenges and different approaches to teaching and engaging young music makers.

As a music educator, I'm grateful to be part of the META Fellowship, as it not only enhances my skills as an artist but gives me the opportunity to support and inspire today's youth, said Dominic Glaude BM '22, a Berklee City Music alumnus and scholarship recipient currently representing Community Music Center of Boston. Staying active in the music industry helps me show my students how what they're learning translates beyond school. My work in the classroom has made me a stronger producer and engineer, and Ive been able to put what Ive learned into real-world creative practice.

The current cohort includes 39 fellows representing public and charter schools, community organizations, and college-led K-12 music initiatives from across the state. These fellowships build on Berklee's longstanding commitment to creative youth development and professional learning through the Berklee City Music Network. With a focus on culturally relevant teaching, design thinking, and collective leadership, the META fellowship is uniquely positioned to advance music education across the commonwealth.

2026-2027 Application InformationNow entering its fifth overall cycle and second under Berklee City Music stewardship, the META Fellowship continues to advance creative youth development and culturally responsive music education.

Schools and community-based organizations may nominate up to two educators whose work demonstrates excellence, impact, and a commitment to strengthening music education in their communities. While nominations from schools and community-based organizations are strongly encouraged, independent music educators and teaching artists may also apply.

Unaffiliated applicants should demonstrate how they will fully participate in fellowship activities, including site visits and collaborative engagement. Learn more and apply by Friday, April 10.

About Berklee City MusicBerklee City Music is a nonprofit initiative of Berklee College of Music dedicated to expanding access to high-quality contemporary music education for youth from under-resourced communities. The program provides year-round instruction, pre-college preparation, and individualized advising to support students' educational and artistic pathways, including enrollment at Berklee. Through its City Music Network of 44 partner organizations, Berklee City Music reaches more than 60,000 students each year across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.

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