As the largest community music school in the nation, MacPhail Center for Music has a responsibility to create real and substantive social change in music education. Embracing the principles of DEI are essential to the future of music education and music therapy.
Our mission is to transform lives and strengthen communities through music learning experiences that inspire. We believe it is our duty to not only address and help correct the historic exclusion of students, faculty, performers, and composers from diverse populations, but to forge a new, equitable and inclusive path forward.
Our vision is to provide students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities access to enduring music learning experiences through extraordinary faculty, relevant programs, and integrated learning technology to create successful outcomes.
Roque Diaz, Senior Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a first-generation Puerto Rican college graduate, Dr. Diaz has shaped his career goals and qualifications by combining leadership, administration, scholarship, teaching, and performance through nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and K-12 school teaching in multiple countries. Dr. Diaz joined MacPhail Center for Music as the Director of School Partnerships in 2018, and currently guides the Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as the Senior Director of DEI. Dr. Diaz’s journey as a historically excluded person of color in predominantly white spaces underlies his commitment to assuring more inclusive, culturally diverse, and relevant experiences through the lens of DEI. More…
Christopher Rochester, Director of the Global Music Initiative (GMI) is a musician, educator, and composer. Chris was exposed to many Black American cultural practices during his youth and was fortunate enough to be able to quickly understand how much influence that culture plays in music. He has a wonderful ability to both perform and teach in a way that shines light on the cultural influences of Black American traditions. More…
Elizabeth Winslow, Director of School Partnerships & Project Amplify, is originally from Denver, Colorado, She moved to Minnesota to earn her degree from Gustavus Adolphus College in Instrumental Music Education with honors in composition, magna cum laude. After graduation, Elizabeth served as assistant director at Brooklyn Center High School and then moved on as director of band and choir at Marshall County Central High School. Before coming to MacPhail, she worked with the Richfield Marching Spartans from 2012-2021 and was the Richfield High School band director from 2016-2021. More…
We are eager to hear personal and musical insights from our students, faculty, staff, and greater community about a particular cultural heritage month that resonates with you as that month approaches. You are also encouraged to share other relevant information for global celebratory days as it relates to various groups’ contributions to history. Visit the form below to learn more and submit.
MacPhail’s Global Music Initiative (GMI), guided by experts in music pedagogy, works to create inclusive curricula, teaching methods, and performance opportunities outside of the classical canon that represent people of color, the LGBTQ+ community and women.
This approach to music instruction fosters innovation and cultural equity and welcomes the contributions of all styles and traditions.
