We hope you enjoy learning what our students have accomplished over the past few months thanks to your regular support!
Pictured left to right: Key to Change instructor Mara Gearman, alumna Jolene Nguyen, student Tyree Carr III, and founder Dr. Quinton Morris
July 7, 2026
Thank you for your monthly support. Our students succeed because of consistent practice, lessons, and performance opportunities. We could not produce this programming without the consistent support you provide. We wanted to share a special student experience that happened over the past quarter, thanks to donors like you.
Tyree Carr III, a 15-year old viola student of Mara Gearman, has been having a particularly standout year with our program. He made his solo debut with the University of Washington Philharmonia Campus Orchestra before a packed audience at Meany Center for the Performing Arts at the end of May. This opportunity came on the heels of Tyree winning the 2026 Key to Change Concerto Competition in January and debuting with the Federal Way Symphony at the Spring Salon Fundraiser at Benaroya Hall in March.
Performing the third and fourth movements of Georg Philipp Telemann’s Viola Concerto in G Major, Tyree demonstrated musical maturity beyond his years, much to the delight of his teacher. “This was the best I have ever heard Tyree play with an orchestra,” Mara shared following the concert.
One of the evening’s most poignant moments came after the performance when Tyree was greeted backstage by Jolene Nguyen, the very first viola student to enroll at Key to Change. Now graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in Microbiology and recently admitted to the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, Jolene congratulated Tyree and surprised him with flowers following his performance.
The connection was meaningful given Tyree’s own aspirations to study Microbiology in college, creating a bridge between two students connected by music and scholarship. Their meeting put the longevity of Key to Change on full display: a pioneering alumna preparing for her career in healthcare celebrating a rising young artist taking the next step in his musical career.
In Case You Missed It
Pictured left to right: students Avi Spillers, Chris Eligio-Ramirez, and Justice Johnson met with Dr. Sandra Naddaff, Dean of Harvard Summer School and Dr. Nancy Coleman, Dean of the Harvard Extension School & Continuing Education during the first week of their summer residency
Pictured: GRAMMY-winning artist and Key to Change’s 2026-27 Composer-in-Residence, Johnaye Kendrick (center), performs new original music for the community on stage with our full student cohort on June 13, 2026
In case you missed it, two more exceptional highlights occurred last month. Firstly, the organization hosted its annual New Music Concert featuring our Composer-in-Residence on June 13, 2026. This year, GRAMMY-award winning artist and composer Johnaye Kendrick performed several original works composed specifically for Key to Change students with her jazz band. Students also performed repertoire by previous Key to Change Composers-in-Residence, including acclaimed pianist and composer Patrice Rushen, violinist and composer Curtis Stewart, and composer Caleb Vaughn-Jones.
Secondly, three Key to Change students began their summer studies at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts at the end of June. Thanks to our new partnership with Harvard Secondary School Program and Delta Airlines, they will study on full scholarship for seven weeks. You can read more about their experience here.
We are looking forward to continued growth this summer and fall! Stay tuned for more exciting news and accomplishments that you’ve funded directly. Thank you so much for supporting our community.
