Music Ed Projects

Trevor’s SEL Arts Projects in Chicago Public Schools

The “Who Will Carry Me?” Project

CHICAGO, IL – Today the Nicholas Senn Arts High School community released an original visual art project featuring more than 30 Senn Arts students singing, dancing, and playing instruments from their homes, demonstrating their creative talent and determination to thrive in the midst of some of the toughest times the country has seen.

The project, titled “Who Will Carry Me?,” features original music and choreography from Senn Arts students, staff and alumni, who join together in the video, united through the arts, despite physical distance.

“In the process of creating the ‘Who Will Carry Me?’ project, it was during the time where a lot of us didn't know how to cope with being in quarantine,” said Senn Arts student Mia Mendoza. “Being alone all the time and stuck with your own thoughts is not something that's easy to do. But for me personally, I felt that doing this project collectively truly portrayed the message of the piece that even then, and now, we aren't alone.”

The song is a creative response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the trauma of experiencing and watching anti-Black violence repeatedly displayed on the news while in isolation. The song is also a call to action: As school districts across the country are cutting arts budgets to address the financial impact of Covid-19, the 4-minute video reaffirms the arts’ ability to connect, heal and strengthen communities.

“Times like what we’re currently living through underscore the acute need for programs like ours to be supported in every neighborhood across our country,” said Senn Arts Vocal Music Director, Trevor Nicholas. “The very nature of our programs foster safe spaces and places for fulfilling, restorative and creative expression that, in turn, heal those outside our walls.”

Nicholas, who composed the song, worked alongside Senn Arts Music Teacher Colin Cosgrove, Dance Instructor Amy Jesionowski, and Senn Arts Coordinator Krista Wortendyke to create a completely original piece showcasing the creativity of Senn Arts students and staff. Nationally-renowned musicians, including vocalist Trey McLaughlin and composer Pinkzebra, and arts partners from across the city, such as Heather Aranyi from the Lyric Opera, collaborated with students, adding unique improvisations to the piece.

“I believe I speak for everyone that participated in this project when I say that our hopes are to send some form of peace, positivity, and strength in a time where we suffer from two pandemics at a time: racial injustice and Covid-19,” said Mendoza. “Whenever someone needs to be carried, this piece is here for them.

ROOTED!: Forced to Listen

In my first year of teaching high school, I realized just how wide of life experience and privilege gaps there were between my students and myself. So, I wrote a grant proposal for a $15,000 Creative Schools Award to explore the history of African American music in Chicago, focusing on the migration of music and people from the south to Chicago from the 1890's-Present day. The purpose of Rooted! was to help students and myself understand who we are so that we can make intentional choices about who we will become. As a result of the project's success, we were honored with the opportunity to perform at Chicago's Symphony Center. Orbert Davis, Martez Rucker, and John Arndt were all artists who were involved in this project.

This is my most cherished artifact from Rooted!
"Forced To Listen" is a professionally recorded original rap created in collaboration with artist John Arndt. In the the track you can hear Celeste (Prosser student who was adamantly against being programmed into choir) rapping her original words, Artist John Arndt singing the hook 'I'm not a lost cause...', Prosser student Willie Partee singing "The Sun Will Rise", and the Prosser choir on backup vocals.

Rooted Project Article in DNA INFO

Rooted Project Featured in Be Creative Promotional Video

The soundtrack for this video was created by my students, myself and our guest artist, John Arndt.

Senn High School Performs Contemporary

National Anthem at Cubs Game

In December 2018 Cub's Chairman Tom Ricketts heard Senn students sing at his Wrigleyville Tree Lighting Ceremony and invited them to 'come back when it's warmer'. On June 4th he met them on the field as vocalists passionately sang an arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner that Trey McLaughlin wrote specifically for them to present that day. The crowd was overwhelmingly supportive and the Cubs won!!!

Take a trip to this Wrigley Field experience here: Senn High School Performs Anthem at Cubs Game

Lyric Secondary Residency

In my first year at Nicholas Senn High School I was approached by the Lyric Opera's education department with the opportunity to compete for a year-long residency (2020-2021 is our 5th year of the residency). This opportunity was extended to me after Lyric Unlimited’s Learning Partners Manager experienced a culminating performance at the Symphony Center from the Rooted Project I designed at Prosser. Through our connection with Lyric we've been the youth chorus for a world premiere youth opera and are grateful to have worked with Maestro Black and Heather Aranyi. Below are links to Episodes 1-3 from a short documentary series Lyric filmed on the first year of the residency.

Lyric Residency Episode 3

Lyric Residency Episode 2

Lyric Residency Episode 1

Lakeside Singers and Chicago Recording Company

In May 2017 we had the privilege of heading to the Chicago Recording Company as part of a grant program called Kids On Track program run by the Lakeside Singers. Attached are the resulting tracks.

“Never Give Up” is a vocal jazz piece composed by Martez Rucker for my Senn Arts Concert Choir. The lyrics of the piece share words of wisdom on perseverance handed to my students by their elders. It is an exciting piece of vocal jazz that features a handful of soloists and seven part harmony jazz chords.

“The Ground” is from the Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo.

Creative Schools Fund Grant Review Committee at Ingenuity, Inc.

The past five years I have been invited to serve on the Creative Schools Fund Grant Review Committee to direct ~$1.5 million in grants each year to Chicago Public School arts projects. It is so inspiring to read about all the amazing arts projects that change lives!

Music of the Baroque and ArtSmart Vocal Studio Partnerships

Music of the Baroque and ArtSmart currently provide over $45,000 annually for my vocal students to receive private voice lessons, master classes, sectional help, and more. These are partnerships that I became aware of and sought out for my students who could not otherwise afford these experiences.