Peabody at the Shelter connects Peabody Conservatory students with residents of Helping Up Mission (HUM), a Baltimore addiction recovery and housing program, through monthly, interactive one-hour performances. The program fosters community connection and healing while helping students explore the role of art in health interventions. Performers receive a $125 stipend per performance.
Peabody at the Shelter, founded in 2023 by classical pianist Taylor Wang, was a Launch Grant-winning project that funded five monthly performances by conservatory students at HUM from November 2023 to April 2024. The program, developed with Cris Flack and mentored by Khandeya Sheppard, also won a Johns Hopkins Urban Health Institute Baltimore Health Equity Impact Grant in Spring 2024.
Participate in orientation sessions with HUM staff, Peabody staff, and professional musicians
Participate in community engagement meetings and/or coaching sessions as needed
Secure and provide their own instrument, stand, music, and amplification (if necessary) for performances
Confirm transportation needs to and from the venue (personal or public transport, Hopkins shuttle bus, Hop Van, Lyft, etc.)
Arrive at scheduled dress rehearsal / performance time for check-in and set up
Prepare and deliver a Peabody approved concert program at HUM on designated dates and times
“I value music for its ability to touch people from all walks of life, and I will continue to explore how I can use music to connect more deeply with the world around me.”