February 2026

Dear Friends and Supporters of Upbeat New Hampshire,

We are excited to announce that we are able to make the next step in our growing organization. Upbeat New Hampshire is now an independent non-profit.  We are registered as a New Hampshire charitable corporation, recognized as tax-exempt by the IRS.  This step is so important to us because we can explore more fund-raising opportunities.  It also allows us to spend less on overhead than would have been the case going forward.

We are so grateful for the 12 years with United Way as our fiscal agent. This enabled us to gain the knowledge and trajectory to become a separate entity today. We are pleased that we are staying in our office headquarters in the United Way Building on 20 Broad Street, Nashua, NH 03064.

We are also grateful for the continuing collaboration with the Nashua School District music department, as well as our collaboration for violin repair work from Fiddledogs, a local Nashua violin shop.

Our program offerings are growing with larger string ensembles and an expanded Youth Orchestra. Our semi-private and group lessons continue as always in the neighborhood schools breaking barriers for so many children. This year we received 250 enrollees, two thirds on full scholarship and the remainder highly subsidized.  All this is made possible by your generosity.  Donations going forward should be made payable to Upbeat New Hampshire and sent to our address below. 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Warmest regards,

Nancy Goodwin

Executive Director, Upbeat New Hampshire

379 Amherst Street #424 | Nashua, NH 03063

After-school music program transforms lives of Nashua students

Upbeat New Hampshire, the Nashua area’s premier after-school music enrichment program, is celebrating 14 years of inspiring young musicians and building community through music. Since its founding, the program has introduced nearly 2,000 local students to the joy of playing string instruments in ensembles and orchestras, regardless of financial background or ability level.

“I love playing the violin, I love interacting with everybody in the orchestra…it helps me go along in the harder times,” says Divya, a ninth-grade violinist. Fellow student Galilea adds, “Music is a really big portion of my life, I’ll still remember Upbeat as the place I started.”

In partnership with United Way of Greater Nashua and the Nashua School District, Upbeat offers students in grades 3–12 the chance to learn violin, viola, cello, or bass through weekly semi-private lessons and ensemble participation. The program starts students in nine of Nashua’s twelve elementary schools and serves nearly 200 students each year. Every child receives an instrument at no cost, and more than 65% receive full scholarships for weekly instruction.

Upbeat’s orchestra program is at the heart of the experience, giving students the opportunity to perform together, grow as musicians, and learn the value of teamwork. “When you meet your orchestra mates, they’ll help you but they’ll also become your friends,” Galilea notes. The program culminates each school year with nearly 200 students performing Beethoven’s Ode to Joy together — a community highlight that showcases the power of music to unite.

Upbeat offers three levels of orchestras, including its Youth Orchestra led by a professional conductor. Parent Susie Schuman describes the program as unmatched: “Everything is right here. The comprehensive nature of the program can’t be beat.”

Students don’t just learn music — they develop discipline, confidence, and leadership. Many, like Divya, mentor younger musicians, while others return as college interns, gaining work experience and giving back to the program that shaped them.

Looking ahead, the Upbeat Youth Orchestra is expanding into a regional orchestra and is now recruiting string, wind, brass, and percussion students from across Southern New Hampshire. The orchestra will perform again in February 2026.

Registration is now open for the 2025–2026 school year. To learn more, view concert videos, or register, visit www.UpbeatNewHampshire.org or email upbeatnewhampshire@gmail.com.

Registration is now open for our Upbeat Summer Festival – June 23-27!

Click here to register

Upbeat will have a new principal conductor this coming year, Jotaro Nakano. You can read more about him here: Jotaro Nakano, Principal Conductor.  He is music director of Longwood Symphony in Boston and has done work with Youth orchestras and string orchestras as well. 

We extend our gratitude and congratulations to Elias Miller, who has been with Upbeat for the past several years. He has been a vital part of the growth of Upbeat, and we wish him well on his exciting new endeavors!

Huge thank you to Nashua ETV for recording the concert! See the full recording here.

See full concert here!