Buford highway orchestra

Program Overview
Launched in 2021, the Buford Highway Orchestra Project (BHOP) is a free after-school and weekend enrichment program that provides high-quality string instrument instruction to children in 3rd–8th grade, primarily from Title I schools in DeKalb County Region I. BHOP was created in direct response to the academic, social, and emotional toll of the pandemic on youth and the glaring absence of early music education opportunities in schools serving low-income families. The program centers not only music literacy but also life skills, teamwork, and community connection.

BHOP fills a significant equity gap: access to string music education in early grades is almost nonexistent for families with limited income. Most local elementary schools do not offer orchestra programs, and private lessons are financially out of reach. BHOP bridges this disparity with a model grounded in access, excellence, and language equity, including in-language instruction and communication via WhatsApp, phone, and written materials—primarily in Spanish and English.

For more information, please contact Juana Alzaga at juana.alzaga@welovebuhi.org.

For contributions to support this program, contact Lily Pabian at lily@welovebuhi.org.

The Buford Highway Orchestra Project stands as a powerful model of what’s possible when equity, excellence, and culture meet. By providing free access to high-quality music education and ensuring culturally and linguistically responsive engagement, BHOP opens doors that too often remain closed to low-income families. With continued funding support, BHOP expands its transformative reach, building student confidence, academic momentum, and community pride through the universal language of music.