Harmony Project Phoenix: Expanding College Pathways Through Music

By Doyal D'Angelo Bolin

Harmony Project's Teaching Artists in Residence program is demonstrating how high-quality music instruction can become a powerful lever for college access, particularly for students from underserved communities.

Since its launch in 2022 across Phoenix Union High School District (PXU), the program has combined music education with individualized college readiness support. With the help of the Burton Family Foundation, the initiative is expanding to reach 400 students across 10 PXU high schools.

Diogo Pereira, executive director of Harmony Project Phoenix, relishes the opportunity to help give students a great artistic outlet and a bright future.

"We are creating a clear and realistic pathway to higher education for students who have traditionally been left out of these opportunities," Pereira said. "This isn't just about music. This is about access, empowerment, and giving students a reason to believe in what's possible."

The Teaching Artists in Residence model places trained music educators directly in PXU classrooms, co-teaching alongside school instructors. Harmony Project teachers are experienced musicians, many holding master's or doctoral degrees, and are chosen as much for their mentoring ability as for their musical credentials.

The program provides:

• A 12:1 student-teacher ratio for personalized instruction

• A College Pathway Liaison to assist seniors with applications, FAFSA, and scholarship navigation

• Dual enrollment opportunities at South Mountain Community College

• College readiness workshops for students and families, facilitated in English and Spanish by Access ASU

"The mentorship part is what sets this program apart," said Mario, a participating student. "It's not just 'here's how to play your part.' It's 'here's how to fill out a FAFSA,' or 'here's what this college might be like for you.' That's the kind of help we really need."

The program was designed in response to persistent enrollment disparities in Arizona, where the college-attendance going rate hovers near 50% year-by-year according to the Arizona Board of Regents.

Nearly all participants are first-generation college students. Many come from Latino immigrant families where navigating the college process can be especially complex without bilingual guidance.

"The process is confusing, even for students with support systems," said Kira, another participating student. "But having people who understand where we're coming from and can speak our language, makes all the difference."

This impact is even more vital when considering the student-to-counselor ratio across Arizona, which has the highest student-to-counselor ratio in the nation, 667 to 1, leaving many students without access to individualized college guidance. Harmony Project helps fill that gap.

Cultural Representation and Belonging

Students in the program learn the techniques of  music, and in that process, are encouraged to explore music that reflects their own cultural identities and lived experiences. From classical orchestras to Mariachi and Orquesta Juvenil Latina Caribena, the program honors the diversity of PXU's student population.

This approach aims to create deeper engagement, self-expression, and a stronger sense of belonging.

"We want students to see themselves in what they're learning," Pereira said. "When students feel represented and respected, their confidence grows, and that's when they start imagining college not as a dream, but as a destination."

Measuring Success

Harmony Project Phoenix is committed to tracking and delivering results. In the coming year, the program is targeting:

• 100% high school graduation and FAFSA completion rates among seniors

• 90% college matriculation

• 80% year-over-year retention

• 75% student satisfaction rate

With the support of the Burton Family Foundation, Harmony Project Phoenix will expand to serve students at 10 PXU high schools: Trevor Browne, Carl Hayden, North, Maryvale, Cesar Chavez, South Mountain, Alhambra, Central, Camelback, and Betty Fairfax. All participating schools are Title I campuses where 40% or more of students qualify as low-income.

"Our goal is to reach students who have the most to gain, and often the least access to programs like this," Pereira said.

The dual enrollment program alone will allow 50 students per semester to earn transferable college credits at South Mountain Community College at no cost to them or their families.

Harmony Project Phoenix is designed for sustained engagement, supporting students from freshman year through graduation. This ensures consistent mentorship, academic accountability, and arts-based learning that develops and strengthens over time. 

As the program grows, Harmony Project remains committed to individualized instruction. Students work closely with mentors, participating in original compositions, performing with the Phoenix Symphony, and developing critical thinking and leadership skills.

For students like Kira, that investment is life-changing.

"I used to think college was something other people did," she said. "Now, I know I belong there."

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You can learn more about Harmony Project Phoenix here.

Photos courtesy of Harmony Project Phoenix.