Arlen Hlusko Is Reimagining the Concert Experience for Families Across Philadelphia

This Saturday, March 21, Curtis presents a special sensory-friendly family concert in partnership with Philadelphia Performances for Autism (PPfA), a concert series founded by Arlen Hlusko (Cello ’15, ArtistYear ’16) to create welcoming spaces for families to experience live music together. An internationally-acclaimed cellist with a deep commitment to community engagement, Hlusko has grown PPfA into a citywide initiative, bringing free, high-quality performances to schools, libraries, churches, and other community spaces across Philadelphia. We spoke with Hlusko about her artistic process, the importance of inclusive programming, and the impact she hopes to have in Philadelphia and beyond.

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What inspired you to found Philadelphia Performances for Autism?
During my Artist Year at Curtis—now called Community Artist Fellowships—I worked with autistic children and learned how challenging it can be for their families to find activities they can all enjoy. I found this upsetting and disheartening, as I fell in love with music as a child by attending concerts and experiencing joy and awe with my family. This inspired me to create a safe, inclusive space that brings people together—one where all children feel welcome.

All of this led to Philadelphia Performances for Autism, a welcoming space for families to enjoy high-quality classical music performances for free in a sensory-friendly environment.

Tell us about your process working with students for this upcoming performance at Curtis. What are the biggest takeaways you hope they have from this experience?
I hope students enjoy imagining how their music can excite young listeners—some of whom may be experiencing live classical music for the first time. I also hope they gain a deeper understanding of what “sensory-friendly” means, and how we can offer high-quality programming in more thoughtful, welcoming ways. Ultimately, I want them to see that music can be a positive force in many different environments—and that they can find their own paths to connect more deeply with others through it.

Why is harnessing music for community-driven work like this important? What advice would you offer to students with a similar drive for service?
I have witnessed so many ways music can move people. It’s hard to ignore the state of our world and the turmoil we’re living through. Music can be a light—a gathering place and a shared language that brings people together in an increasingly fractured world. This can take many forms, from the concert stage to teaching studios to community spaces and beyond. As musicians, it’s important to lean into what makes each of us unique. Ultimately, that’s what allows music to become the connective and enriching force it’s capable of being.

Through these special performances, what impact do you hope to have on the community—in Philadelphia, and beyond?
My main goal with this project is intentionally small in scale: to offer families a safe space to gather, be themselves, and experience wonderful music in a comfortable, open environment. If even one family leaves feeling excited about the music they discovered—with a memory they can joyfully return to—then I’m happy.

Experience PPfA’s performance at Curtis this Saturday, March 21 at 3 p.m. Tickets are free, but registration is required.

Learn more about Arlen Hlusko and Philadelphia Performances for Autism.