The WCP considers education an essential component of its mission and focuses its initiatives especially on rural and underserved communities.

Programs are tailored to serve the needs of individual schools. Offerings include master classes, chamber music coaching, open rehearsals, youth concerts and a string instrument "petting zoo." Residencies are used as an opportunity to integrate selected students into the ensemble for a rehearsal or public performance with the Walden Chamber Players.

Artistic Director Christof Huebner has developed several curricula for educational enrichment. "Music and the Social Conscience" is a program specifically designed for junior and senior high-school age students. Throughout history, music has been used as a forum for social dialogue and exchange and as a tool in the struggle for greater civil and human rights. "Music and the Social Conscience" conveys the powerful message that music truly is the human experience translated into sound. As such, we recognize music as a vital component of our shared experience, connecting us to each other across ethnic and social boundaries. The Walden Chamber Players see it as an important part of their mission to serve as a valuable resource for the community

Music and the Social Conscience

This multi-media presentation is designed to call students' attention to the social undercurrent intrinsic in music and in the process of musical composition. Throughout history music has been used as a forum of social dialogue and exchange-sometimes overtly to promote a political platform, sometimes covertly as a subterfuge for protest. Music and the Social Conscience (MaSC) seeks to show students specific moments in history during which music has played a large role in informing and unifying people for a common cause-in essence, catalyzing social change. This presentation is made not only for the purpose of educating students about history and music, but also so that students can draw a parallel between that history and their own story.

Depending on the demographics of the student population, the course affords great flexibility by adjusting the content to respond to the cultures, heritages and societal backgrounds of the class, to best address each particular classroom situation. Music and the Social Conscience aims to teach students what kinds of positive resources may be drawn upon to effect change in their lifetime.

MaSC is about 1 and 1/2 hours in length and can be followed with a live performance by the Walden Chamber Players of the 8th string quartet by Dmitri Shostakovich, one of the composers and works prominently featured in Music and the Social Conscience. The length of the presentation can be varied slightlyby adjusting it's content. MaSC has been presented at colleges and high-schools across the United States to enthusiastic reception.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council recently awarded Music and the Social Conscience it's Gold Star Award.

Thou art all my art is a multi-media presentation which explores the music, literary and visual arts in England during the Elizabethan period. The presentation is centered on the sonnets by William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth 1st, poetry of both, great passion and contemplation. Readings from the literature are framed with music by Gibbons, Morley, Dowland and others whose music we know to have been introduced by Shakespeare, an artist shrouded in mystery, into his plays and by slides of paintings of some of the most important painters of the age such as Nicholas Hilliard. Through the juxtaposition of music, image and word Thou art all my art dramatically recreates the mood of an age full of passion, secrets, unrequited love and mystery.

Boccherini in Madrid

Boccherini in Madrid is a multi-media presentation, combining music, literature and the visual arts.

Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) was an Italian composer who spent most of his creative life in Madrid, Spain. Although a composer of the highest distinction he is today somewhat neglected. Boccherini in Madrid explores the artistic environment in Madrid in the late 18th century, drawing connections between Boccherini and contemporary artists of his, such as Goya and Tiepolo, two of the most important painters active in Madrid at the time. Indeed, there are examples where Boccherini and Goya used the same subject-matter as the inspiration for their respective artistic output. Slides of paintings by Goya, Tiepolo and Mengs are projected during the performance of music by Boccherini in order to highlight that connection.

The presentation is framed by readings from contemporary accounts of life in Madrid during the late 18th century. These readings serve to provide the listener with a picture of life in Madrid during the period described and help to connect the artists portrayed in Boccherini in Madrid to the social environment and it's influences on them.