Project STEP (String Training Education Program) Names Javier Caballero as New Artistic Director

Project STEP, Symphony Hall

301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

projectstep.org 

 Project STEP Names Javier Caballero as New Artistic Director

August 13, 2020 - Boston, MA: Project STEP welcomes Javier Caballero as the organization’s new Artistic Director.

With a career in the performing arts spanning over 20 years, Mr. Caballero has worked as a performing artist, educator, and arts leader. As Project STEP’s Artistic Director, Caballero will work closely with Alyssa Lee, Executive Director, to develop and implement the organization’s artistic vision, while leading youth development in line with Project STEP’s mission and core values. “I am honored and thrilled to join Project STEP at this pivotal time in our history, whose mission is more essential now than ever,” Caballero said. Ms. Lee added, “I am absolutely delighted and I am very much looking forward to working with Javier as I truly believe his artistic vision and expertise as an administrator will prove to be an incredibly powerful asset in advancing Project STEP.”

As a cellist, international performances have taken him to China, Turkey, and France, as well as Palestine and Israel with the Al Kamandjati Music School. Caballero earned his master’s degree in cello performance from the Boston Conservatory under Rhonda Rider. His bachelor's degrees, in music education and cello performance, are from the University of South Florida, where he studied with Scott Kluksdahl.

Mr. Caballero has a long history with Project STEP, having previously served in a variety of positions with the organization over a period of ten years between 2007 and 2017- including four years as Artistic Director. During that tenure, Project STEP visited the White House twice, and, on a separate occasion, Mr. Caballero gave a presentation at the National Endowment for the Arts on Project STEP’s legacy of artistic excellence. “Continuing to build on Project STEP’s nearly four-decade legacy of addressing the lack of racial and ethnic representation in classical music, and deepening my commitment to creative youth development, artistic excellence, and social justice is something that I look forward to with great anticipation,” added Mr. Caballero. 

About Project STEP:

Project STEP (String Training Education Program) is a non-profit classical string instrument training program. We envision a world in which the classical music profession reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of our communities. Project STEP recognizes that certain racial and ethnic minorities are vastly underrepresented in classical music. Our mission is to address this imbalance by identifying musically talented children from underrepresented backgrounds in Greater Boston, providing them with comprehensive music and string instrument instruction. We set the highest standards for our students, offer significant mentoring and performance opportunities, and create a network of support for our students, their families, and their communities. Learn more at projectstep.org