The Peer Ambassadors for Chamber Music (PACMan) program takes place on Friday of the Fischoff Competition weekend.  It involves our youngest competitors – ensembles from the Junior Division.

Each year, carefully chosen junior ensembles are invited into area classrooms to present informal performance-workshops for second and third graders.  The program’s purpose is to present to little learners a friendly and “real” introduction to chamber music.  Since Fischoff junior division competitors are also in school, they make perfect peer-role models for elementary school children who look up to and identify with older students.  The performance level of Fischoff junior division ensembles creates an excitement that is a powerful mentoring tool in encouraging young children to pursue music and to consider joining their own school or community band and orchestra programs.

Peer Ambassadors from the 2025 Competition include:

• Arcturus Quartet, Frisco, TX
• KSG Trio, Worthington, OH
• Myer Schwartz Piano Trio, Philadelphia, PA
• Onyx Euphonium Quartet, San Antonio, TX
• 0pus 67, Philadelphia, PA
• Orion Quartet, Carrollton, TX
• Quartetto Speranza, Chicago, IL
• Spizella Quartet, Chicago, IL
• Trio Verus, Boston, MA
• Solaris Winds, Austin, TX
• Zephyr Quartet, Fresno, CA

Schools receiving Peer Ambassadors programs in 2024:

• Ballard Elementary, Niles, MI
• Battell Elementary, Mishawaka, IN
• Darden Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Eastwood Elementary, Elkhart, IN
• Harrison Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Holy Cross Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Kennedy Primary Academy, South Bend, IN
• Mary Feeser Elementary, Elkhart, IN
• Marshall Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Nuner Fine Arts Elementary, South Bend, IN
• Parkside Elementary, Elkhart, IN
• Pinewood Elementary, Elkhart, IN

Major funding for PACMan comes from an endowment established for the program by Barbara Warner. Special thanks to Diane & Nick Entrikin for their generous support of PACMan, along with our gala fund a need contributors. Additional funding is provided by generous annual contributions from our donors and sponsors.