Is the culture of our schools equally supportive of all student choices? Do schools recognize the innate musicality in us all? Do school priorities, investments, and policies truly make room for every student’s journey of discovery, or do they put hurdles in the way of students seeking a place in music and the arts? This talk advocates for change, and challenges us to reimagine schools so that every child feels equally celebrated and supported. James Burritt has taught vocal music at the collegiate, private, and public-school levels. He currently teaches music at Lewiston-Porter Central Schools in Youngstown, NY. Mr. Burritt is also the founder and director of the Vocalis Chamber Choir in Buffalo, NY. In addition to its concerts around Buffalo, Vocalis has performed at the American Choral Directors’ Association Eastern Region Conference, the Music Niagara Festival in Ontario, Canada, and at the Cambridge Summer Music Festival in the UK. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx