After over a decade of bringing first-class chamber music to islanders through their summer chamber music festival, Sophie Baird-Daniel and Dana Jackson, co-founders of the non-profit Archipelago Collective, are embarking on a new program, the Winter Residency Performance, geared toward youth and families. The Residency takes place March 9 and 10. Agrande finale performance will be held on March 10 at 7 p.m. at the San Juan Community Theatre.

“We are thrilled to present a concert to San Juan Island’s local community and expose children to the art of classical music, and chamber music specifically,” Jackson said. World-class musicians from the Collective will be spending the two days engaging with the community, presenting assemblies for kids at the local schools, and performing a final concert at the theater for kids and families to learn about what we do and experience the magic of chamber music. The Residency will feature workshops that delve into the intricacies of chamber music, offering unique insights into the art form.

“All ages are welcome, and we hope to see many kids and families,” Jackson said.

The interactive experience, she explained, will allow audience members to explore and learn about what chamber musicians do. “Our musicians have varied and diverse careers around the country, but we all come together here to play chamber music.”

The Collective collaborates and communicates in a common unspoken language she continued, saying that the result creates a “beautiful and enriching music for our audience. We hope this leads to an experience of shared joy as a community, and is a reminder of the value of compromise and collaboration.”

Members of the Archipelago Collective have long hoped to expand their musical offerings throughout the year, reach more local community members, and engage kids and families according to Jackson. “Our steady growth and increasing connections on the island have provided the opportunity to work with the SJI Community Theater and create this event. We hope to continue expanding our presence on the island.”

With a marked decline in public education funding of arts programs recently, exposing youth to the arts has left a need for alternative experiences.

“I’ve seen it in my own childhood school district outside of Seattle. The very programs that encouraged my musical career have been cut or reduced in recent years,” Jackson said. “As directors of this organization, and beneficiaries of arts education in schools, Sophie and I feel a responsibility to expose school-aged kids to the joy of music.”

Ultimately the goal is about letting children have fun with music.

“Our primary goal is to show the kids on San Juan Island how fun and exciting chamber music can be. We hope our passion for the music we create encourages kids to explore all kinds of music and art,” Jackson said. “Strum a ukulele, carve a piece of driftwood, dance in a drum circle! Making art is a wonderful way to share special experiences with others, and encourage creativity in oneself.”

Visit https://www.archipelagocollective.org/festival to learn more or buy tickets to the final performance. “We’d love to see as many kids in attendance as possible,” Jackson said.

” We are so thankful for the warm acceptance and support we’ve received from the people on San Juan Island. We look forward to connecting with you during our Winter Residency in March, and seeing you at our summer festival Sept. 5 -7.”