Community Outreach

Joye is something to share.

Bringing the arts to area students

Every year since 2009, Joye in Aiken has sent the world’s finest young artists (primarily from The Juilliard School) into area neighborhoods – many of them isolated, rural, and economically challenged – to bring the magic and power of the arts to local students.

During Festival week and at other times throughout the year, these artists visit schools and other venues to share their world-class talents. Everywhere they go, they teach. But they also do much more than that. To many of the students who hear them, they are a source of inspiration, pride, and hope. They are living proof that hard work, talent, and discipline can take you to the top of the world. They are mentors and role models. They are rock stars.

Each year, we offer an extensive slate of in-school performances, Kidz Bop and Young People’s concerts, artist residencies, and one-on-one master classes. To date, the Joye in Aiken Educational Outreach Program has touched the lives of over 50,000 area students.

Joye in Aiken is the 2016 winner of the Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Award, South Carolina’s highest honor in the arts, for its Educational Outreach Program.

Joye performances bring life-changing inspiration to public school students.

English teacher Rosalyn Greene describes the impact of Joye in Aiken's outreach events on her students at LBC Middle School and shares students' messages of inspiration & thanks.

“We needed somebody to come and tell us that we can do this and that they believe in us.”

— a student at Langley-Bath-Clearwater Middle School in Warrenville, following a weeklong Joye in Aiken residency in which the Juilliard-trained Allant Trio taught them for two hours a day

Performances and Outreach Events Statistics

Your donations in action: 603 Schools, over 50,000 students

YEAR ARTISTS PUBLIC PERFORMANCES OUTREACH EVENTS SCHOOLS STUDENTS
2009 20 5 12 11 500
2010 27 8 17 39 3,373
2011 37 11 17 28 2,457
2012 38 12 21 48 3,081
2013 49 15 54 45 4,051
2014 71 5 16 54 3,502
2015 25 10 21 29 3,166
2016 31 10 10 28 3,041
2017 43 12 13 35 2,951
2018 39 9 10 28 2,852
2019 70 11 9 37 2,543
2020 40 12 25 59 4,200
2021 25 5 9 38 9,470
2022 106 10 5 18 1,269
2023 48 10 13 36 2,010
2024 65 11 15 36 2,259
2025 42 9 13 34 1,662
Total 776 165 280 603 52,387

Joye in Aiken with Sarah Jarosz at LBC Middle School

Thank you to Phil Wahl (President of Security Federal) for this great video on Sarah Jarosz and Jeff Picker at Langley Bath Clearwater Middle School during our 2023 Festival.

  • “Thank you so much for the awesome show. I especially love the person who played the drums because I really think that he is the glue to the band. The lady who sang in the jazz band was awesome. The man who talked a lot and played the trumpet played good. Over all the piano lady was the BEST she played like she was playing for the world.”

    Elle
    Elementary school child who attended Kidz Bop Jazz Concert

  • "It is with sincere gratitude that I thank you for our Joye in Aiken blessings this week.  My middle school students have fallen in love with Opera and Baroque music.  My high school students met inspiring young professionals who boosted their confidence and skills.  Thank you for changing the world, one experience at a time!"

    JOYCE CULP
    Horse Creek Academy
    Aiken County Public School District

  • “It was the most amazing show I've ever been to. The drums were my favorite because they were the loudest and I like the loud stuff. I love the “swing song” because it was funky. The trumpet guy was really good and the singer really knows how to entertain a crowd. But the person who was best at their instrument was the piano lady. Great job to all of you.”

    Anonymous
    Elementary school child who attended Kidz Bop Jazz Concert

  • "I just wanted to say thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to have Riley work with our jazz band students yesterday. That is one of the most educational experiences they have had. Also, thanks so much to JOYE for everything that is done for our kids. Over the years my students have seen so much that they would have never seen otherwise."

    JEFF CLAMP
    Band Director, Ridge Spring-Monetta Middle / High
    Aiken County Public School District

  • “Good Job! Thank you for having us, it was a great show. Y’all really know how to put a show on. The drums really had a beat to it. All the instruments did their job. Everyone did a great job.” From your best friend.

    Faye
    Elementary school child who attended Kidz Bop Jazz Concert

A conversation with Joye in Aiken's Artistic Director, Riley Mulherkar

Joye in Aiken Board member Jack Benjamin interviews Riley about his history with the Festival and Outreach Program, beginning with his days as a visiting Juilliard student; his role as Artistic Director for Jazz; the challenges facing artists now; and his hopes for Joye in Aiken's future.