Fischoff Receives Grant from Everwise Foundation
Notre Dame, IN (February 27, 2026) – The Fischoff National Chamber Music Association is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from the Everwise Foundation in support of the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy.
Founded in 1999, the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy is a year-long (September-June) pre-college program for junior high and high school students. Each year, string, piano, woodwind, brass, and mixed ensembles of three to six musicians in Northern Indiana and Southwestern Michigan are selected to participate in a cohort of like-minded individuals seeking specialized classical music education. Students receive 8-12 professional coaching sessions per Academy year, competition preparation, and community outreach opportunities, while participating in masterclasses, workshops, and annual public performances.
Everwise Foundation Executive Director, Jennifer Stansberry, explained, “Fischoff plays an invaluable role in our community through mentorship programs that offer encouragement, coaching, and support to students to help them reach their full potential. We congratulate them on the success of the Academy and look forward to following the growth of these up-and-coming musicians.”
“We are grateful to the Everwise Foundation for their support and investment in the arts,” remarked Josh Aerie, Executive Director of Fischoff. “This grant allows Fischoff to continue offering educational programs to students in our community who may not otherwise have access to professional musicians and coaching. I’m excited to see how our partnership with Everwise and the Everwise Foundation can deepen our impact within the Michiana region.”
Fischoff’s Academy Director, Megan Simmons, has overseen the program since 2024, working to expand the cohort size and outreach opportunities for Academy ensembles. “This grant from the Everwise Foundation comes at the perfect time. As the Academy looks to become more sustainable and scalable, their generosity plays a key role in supporting our students, families, and coaches,” said Simmons. “Thank you to Everwise and the Everwise Foundation for believing in the ability of music to change lives.”
To learn more about Fischoff’s Chamber Music Academy, visit: https://www.fischoff.org/education/fischoff-chamber-music-academy/
Everwise Foundation: https://www.everwisecu.com/about-us/everwise-foundation
Media Contact: Genevieve Carreno, genevieve@fischoff.org
Phone: 574.631.2903
Email: fischoff@fischoff.org
Website: www.fischoff.org
About Fischoff
Founded in South Bend, IN, in 1973, the Fischoff® National Chamber Music Association hosts the Fischoff Competition, the largest and longest-running chamber music competition in the nation. More than 8,400 musicians have participated, many of whom have gone on to distinguished careers in music performance and education.
Fischoff is a unique arts organization that has secured its place as the nation’s premier educational chamber music competition because of the caliber of its jurors, performance venues, and well-known alumni. Fischoff is also known for extensive outreach programming during the Competition weekend and throughout the year, partnering with its Competition alumni to bring innovative music programs directly to children in their own schools and community centers. Since 1995, these programs have served more than 105,000 community children, reaching more than 4,000 underserved youth annually.