About WCP

Our Mission

The Westside Chamber Players is a student-led chamber orchestra that shares high-level, accessible performances aiding in the development of young, passionate artists.

Our Story

Founded in 2022 by Jersey City resident Julius Akira Mauldin, the Westside Chamber Players (WCP) is a student-led chamber orchestra that shares high-level performances of classical music with local communities. The ensemble is committed to promoting values of inclusivity and equity, and increasing accessibility to the arts. With our mission serving both our audiences and our musicians, WCP is well-placed to become an organization that leads by example in community engagement.

WCP is a space where young artists lead and inspire each other. Unique in its student leadership and makeup, WCP fosters a supportive and positive environment that encourages individual and collective artistic growth across musicians of different backgrounds. In just two seasons, it has become a staple ensemble for students, with member representation that includes Columbia University, The Juilliard School, Mannes School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Mount Sinai, New York University and Queens College.

We are firmly committed to maximizing accessibility to classical music. All of our concerts are presented free of charge, which removes financial barriers and ensures that everyone, regardless of income, can enjoy high-quality performances. We strive to bring together audiences of all ages and levels of musical experience; for many of our concert-goers, this is their first time attending a classical music concert. With this in mind, WCP strives to present programs of both the classical canon and works that highlight underrepresented composers of diverse heritages. As such, our concerts present an opportunity to shape how new audiences perceive classical music.

Our Commitment to Equity

Westside Chamber Players hold a pluralistic vision of music and art-making, believing that a diversity of identities, positionalities, and perspectives are integral to creating impactful art. We are committed to fostering a space that is inclusive, respectful, open, and equitable for the musicians in our organization, the artists we collaborate with, the audiences we reach, and the communities we engage with.

As an organization with a dual focus on music performance and education, we strive to include student musicians from not only a variety of universities, conservatories, and colleges, but also a variety of majors within those programs. We ensure that all of our concerts are free of charge, making them accessible to audiences of all backgrounds.

Our programming priorities involve balancing the presentation of compelling musical experiences with our educational and community-building goals. We maintain a keen awareness of the composers and artists we highlight, and are committed to presenting the music of accomplished past composers as well as amplifying the voices of a diverse group of emerging composers.

Westside Chamber Players continually strive to identify, reflect upon, and improve our practices as a music ensemble and organization, cultivating an accessible, inclusive, and respectful environment for all musicians, collaborators, and audience members.

The Westside Chamber Players does not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious affiliation, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Meet the Team