FOR ALL WHO LOVE TO PLAY.
Arc & Chord is a community-focused learning orchestra serving Northeast Florida, providing educational and ensemble opportunities for string players of all ages and experience levels.
Inaugural Season Begins August 2026!
What is Arc & Chord?
Arc & Chord is a Learning Orchestra.
Who is This For?
As a growing community orchestra, Arc & Chord is dedicated to expanding access to string education and ensemble performance opportunities throughout Nassau County and the surrounding region. By fostering musical growth, collaboration, and community engagement, Arc & Chord is building a vibrant home for strings, ensemble performance, and lifelong music education while working toward nonprofit status to further support local musicians and future generations of orchestra members.
What is a Learning Orchestra?
A learning orchestra provides a non-competitive string ensemble experience for students of all ages to learn a stringed instrument for the first time, to revisit an instrument played earlier in life, or to bridge the gap between beginning an instrument and performing with other community orchestras.
String technique and ensemble instruction is provided during each meeting.
Our Mission:
Arc & Chord’s mission is to provide educational and rewarding ensemble performance opportunities for string players of all ages in Northeast Florida.
Why is a Learning Orchestra Important?
Anyone who loves making music should have the opportunity to learn and grow as a musician at any age and stage in life. With that in mind, the Arc & Chord provides string players of all ages the opportunity to play with other string players. This group is open to Pre-teens, teens, adults, and seniors who are looking for a place to play with other musicians. Hobby and amateur musicians are welcome and encouraged to join! Whether you’ve played for years or are just starting out, a learning orchestra is a great place to build community and hone your musical skills.
ABOUT ARC & CHORD
Our Founder
Based in Jacksonville, FL, Dr. Nina Knight, enjoys a versatile career. Performance, teaching, and speaking opportunities have taken her to concert halls, conferences, and universities in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Over the past decade Nina has been working with organizations centered around music advocacy in the non-profit sector. Nina joined the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival (AICMF) and served as the Executive Director of the Festival for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In fall 2024 she joined the staff of the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra (GIYO) as the Conductor and Music Director of the Symphonette Orchestra. She also serves as the Music Director of the GIYO Chamber Ensemble.
Prior to moving to Florida, she was the Director of Operations of Brazos Music, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing high quality inclusive music education and facilitating access to musical opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
She is the founding Music Director of Houston Orchestra for All, an intergenerational performance ensemble and educational program in Houston, TX dedicated to inclusivity and equitable music education. Her commitment to providing high quality accessible music education and facilitating musical opportunities for all is what inspires her advocacy and motivates her on a daily basis. She served on the faculty of the TexStrings All-State Camp from 2017-2025 and taught Applied Viola, Chamber Music, and the Creative Arts Seminar at Sam Houston State University from 2017-2023.
With over half a decade of experience teaching in higher education, Nina seeks to prepare students for more than their musical goals. Working with university students inspired her to reach out beyond the college classroom and work with musicians from a variety of backgrounds and abilities. By combining compassion, kindness, clear direction, and high quality instruction Nina provides a safe and nurturing environment in her teaching spaces.
In addition to music education advocacy, Nina also maintains an active performance and teaching career in the region.
Learn more: www.nbkstrings.com
The Organization
How does this work?
- We rehearse weekly on Thursday evenings during the school year with some exceptions. We follow the Nassau County School calendar.
- We meet on Amelia Island
- We strive to present one official performance per semester.
- There will be a summer program in Summer 2027 with details available in the Spring.
- We currently have one ensemble, but plan to expand as we grow over time.
Where does my tuition go?
- We are in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) status- a large portion of tuition in the 2026-2027 season goes towards fees associated with filing for non-profit status.
- Tuition goes directly back into the orchestra for music director compensation, music purchases, fees associated with the orchestra including: administrative fees, insurance, music, supplies, and applying for 501(c)(3) status.
Why are you applying to be a non-profit organization?
Great Question, thank you for asking.
- Arc & Chord is an orchestra for the community and intended to educate and bring the joy of music to our region. It falls under a category that is eligible to apply for non-profit status.
- One of our goals is to provide ensemble opportunities in the future to more school aged students as Nassau County does not have strings in school. As a non-profit organization, we will be able to collaborate and extend our reach beyond our regular rehearsing group.
- We want Arc & Chord to earn a spot as a fixture in the community, non-profit status helps us here as well!
- As a non-profit organization we can apply for grants and accept donations
SPONSORED BY
