Hitting the Right Note: ‘We Are Instrumental’ Brings Music Education to Life in Upstate NY

We Are Instrumental (WAI), a non-profit organization in Upstate New York, is on a mission to give every child access to quality musical education. Founded by composer and pianist Evan Mack, the organization seeks to provide well-maintained instruments, enriching musical opportunities, and professional development for teachers in the region. WAI, which became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2022, has already refurbished over 550 instruments and placed them in 27 schools across the region, creating a new harmony for students who otherwise wouldn’t have access to these resources. 

Mack, who has dedicated his life to music, was inspired to create the organization when his own son came home from school and shared a troubling observation—that kids were playing instruments that were bruised, battered, and even bandaged. That is when We Are Instrumental was born. This realization, combined with a lifelong passion for music, spurred him into action. 

Growing up, Mack was fortunate to have parents who, even on their public teacher salaries, made music education a priority for him. “Private piano lessons at the age of 7 put me on a lifelong journey, becoming a pianist and composer, that has taken me all over the world,” Mack said. His career has led him to compose operas as part of a renaissance of new American operas, telling stories that resonate deeply with modern audiences. 

But it wasn’t Mack’s professional success that motivated him to start WAI—it was the inequities he noticed after moving to rural Upstate New York. “I realized that there were many kids not just in the town but also in the Adirondack Park who didn’t have the same access that I did to musical education, and I instantly knew I needed to fix that, or at least try.” 

Since WAI’s founding in 2020, Mack and his team have provided free virtual lessons with college professors to students, breaking down geographical barriers. The organization also offers what Mack calls “golden opportunities” to talented students who may lack the resources to pursue their musical dreams. One student from the program has even performed at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Festival in London, a testament to the life-changing potential of WAI’s work. 

Mack emphasizes that the benefits of music education extend far beyond learning an instrument. “Students involved in music learn discipline and self-motivation. They’r able to break through the noise,” and focus, despite all of life’s distractions in today’s society. “It makes them better in math and science, and more social beings,” Mack says. He notes that for many students “the main reason or the only reason they go to school is because of band or chorus and we want to make that the gateway for the rest of their education. If that’s their connection point, we need to deepen it, and music is the way to do that.”

In addition to placing instruments in classrooms, WAI works with local music shops to refurbish them, ensuring that each one is ready to help a new generation of students unlock their musical potential. “Every instrument has a story to tell, along with the student who will learn on it,” Mack says.

WAI also builds community through events like its annual music summit. Last year’s summit brought together 13 world-class musicians to work with nearly 400 students from 20 different schools. The students spent several hours learning from professional musicians, gaining hands-on experience in a dynamic, interactive environment. “Spending 90-minutes with a drummer who’s played all over the world, or learning breathing techniques from a flute player—bringing that to them, and making that impact,” Mack said, highlighting the lasting influence these experiences have. The second summit will take place this fall.

Through We Are Instrumental, Evan Mack hopes to ensure that every child, regardless of their location or economic background, has access to the life-changing power of music. “Music can be the key that opens the door to so much more for these kids,” he said.

To learn more or support We Are Instrumental, visit weareinstrumentalny.org