SOME KIND OF SPARK

WORLD PREMIERE Illustrating the transformative power not only of music, but of mentorship, Ben Niles’s film is an uplifting look at Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program for inner- city youth. Several diverse and inviting kids are followed for two years as they devote their weekends to developing their musical proficiency, receiving hands-on instruction typically impossible in their regular schooling. These are not an elite group of musical prodigies, and that’s the point—music education should be open to all children, enriching lives and instilling discipline and confidence.