Pictured: Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director of Key to Change, Dr. Natasha Kubit, Music Instructor at Key to Change, and Paul Hogan, President of Cristo Rey Seattle Jesuit High School celebrating new music partnership.
Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School (CRJS) announced today that it has partnered with Key to Change (KTC), a nonprofit string studio with two locations in South King County, to launch an in-school music residency program. Through this partnership, students at Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle will receive high-quality group violin instruction while developing confidence, collaboration, and a sense of belonging.
Designed as a pilot program, the partnership will begin as a semester-long residency with the goal of expanding into a year-long program. Twelve high school students have signed up for their Magis period class starting next week on January 20. Magis, a Latin word meaning “more” or “greater,” is a designated period during the school day that allows students to choose from a variety of aesthetic, athletic, and other enrichment opportunities. These students will attend the Magis violin class on Cristo Rey’s campus daily, taught by Key to Change music instructors Dr. Quinton Morris, Dr. Natasha Kubit, and Analisa Ruiz. Once students learned about this unique opportunity, the pilot class reached the maximum enrollment immediately, with a waitlist of aspiring string players.
Both organizations believe that intensive music instruction can serve as a powerful tool for personal growth, discipline, and opportunity. The residency reflects the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person and aligns closely with Key to Change’s mission to use music as a vehicle for artistic excellence and social change. Both leaders from the respective organizations shared what they are looking forward to in this partnership.
“Cristo Rey’s vision is for their students to experience care for the whole person”, said Dr. Quinton Morris, Executive Director and Founder of Key to Change. “You can see that commitment in the way they teach and how their students are open to growth, focused on service, and committed to social justice. That spirit aligns beautifully with Key to Change’s mission to support underserved students as they grow into confident, self-aware leaders through world-class music instruction. We are excited about building something meaningful and laying the foundation for lasting excellence.”
“We can see the Key to Change partnership becoming one of our distinctive programs”, said Paul Hogan, CRJS President. “We believe deeply in the power of music to amplify students’ spiritual and aesthetic gifts, and we know well Key to Change’s local reputation for teaching excellence. Given that 15 percent of the students at our new school signed up right away, we know we have the interest to build a tremendous strings program that will put us on the map in terms of musical education in South King County.”
This residency is rooted in CRJS’ and KTC’s shared values and reflects mutual commitment between Key to Change and Cristo Rey Seattle to equity, discipline, community engagement, and whole-student development. The groundbreaking initiative also shares the goal of empowering high school students in South King County, and, more specifically, expanding access in the Rainier Beach community. South King County is an area where many students face financial and cultural barriers, and access to arts education is under-supported. By strengthening these pathways, this initiative aims to ensure that every young person in the region can fulfill their fullest potential and fully participate in the arts.
Pictured: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Dr. Quinton Morris, and Paul Hogan.
About Key to Change
Key to Change is a nonprofit music school with a mission to inspire underserved youth through world-class music instruction and support their development as self-aware leaders. The organization was founded in 2017 by Dr. Quinton Morris, a concert violinist, educator, entrepreneur, radio host, filmmaker, and native of South King County, Washington. Dr. Morris is also a Loyola Endowed Professor of Music and Professor of Violin at Seattle University. Key to Change serves middle and high school students (ages 11 to 18) in South King County, an area of the country where many students face financial and cultural barriers. To learn more about Key to Change, visit www.keytochangestudio.org
About Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School
Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle High School (CRJS) is a college-preparatory Catholic high school in Rainier Beach in Seattle, Washington, that welcomes students of all faith traditions. Founded in 2024, CRJS’s unique program integrates academic study and faith formation with professional work experience for students with demonstrated financial need. CRJS has a pathway partnership with Seattle University, where students with a 3.5 GPA or higher may receive 100% tuition funding for the University. CRJS is a member of the Cristo Rey Network® of Schools, a not-for-profit organization founded in Chicago in 2000 that provides youth who would not otherwise have access to high-quality academics and professional experience with deep preparation for post-secondary education and career opportunities. CRJS is the 40th school in the network. To learn more about Cristo Rey Jesuit Seattle, visit www.cristoreyseattle.org
