Meet Michael & Emily Shi

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael & Emily Shi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michael & Emily, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

As siblings with a one-year age gap, we have a very similar growth path and have partnered on many projects. Rather than one moment of insight, a set of life events and reflections shaped our trip toward finding our purpose. As we grew, we were very lucky to be surrounded by people who valued charity. From arranging fundraisers with homemade cookies to donating books to libraries, to small acts of kindness like picking up trash in the park, to major community projects such as food rescue initiatives, sports leagues for disadvantaged children, and environmental campaigns, these experiences closely linked us to service.

Starting early in life, we were engaged in many of these types of endeavors; service eventually came to define us. To us, service is not only a choice but the road to true joy and purpose. It lets us see that the greatest fulfillment is derived from supporting others and changing the world for the better.

Thanks! So let’s talk about your passion project—what inspired you to pursue this endeavor?

What inspired us to initiate our passion project, the Peabody Harmony Project, was an occasional performance at a memory center as part of year-end outreach. We never truly grasped the strength of music’s healing power until then. With impaired memories, most residents sat silently with their heads down when we arrived. But once we began to play, a miracle happened. Some became excited; others shed tears. It was heartwarming to witness some moving their arms gracefully, perhaps recalling their younger days as dancers. We were deeply moved.
That night, my sister and I decided to form a project dedicated to uplifting the community through music on a continuous basis. With twelve years of musical experience, we knew many musician friends, so we reached out to everyone we could think of, but they hesitated due to the daunting process.
One Saturday, during a rehearsal break at the Peabody Youth Orchestra, we finally recruited a few members with the promise that we would do all the groundwork; they only needed to join the performances. Thus, the Peabody Harmony Project was born.
To fulfill our promise, we worked tirelessly. For the first few months, working until 2, 3, or even 4 AM was very normal. Though the Peabody Harmony Project is a nonprofit, it requires the same care as running a regular business, from legal, finance, operations, recruiting, marketing, and social media to public relations. We drafted bylaws, conflict of interest policies, and articles of operation for the project to file with the IRS and Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation to obtain 501(c)(3) status. We standardized all kinds of procedures, established a new website and social media accounts, reached out to other local nonprofits, businesses, senior centers, hospitals, and recreation centers, and sought guidance from music educators. Every day, from the time we opened our eyes, there was a mountain of work awaiting us. But with more and more successful performances posted on social media, more like-minded young musicians joined us.
What began as just my sister and me grew into a team of over 100 volunteers serving Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania. We realized that there has never been a shortage of people with kind hearts willing to contribute, but rather a need for leaders to unite and guide them to do the right things. Starting something new from scratch may seem intimidating, but we are not afraid to take the risk in the hope of creating a ripple effect.
Our performances have gained popularity, and our services have expanded from live music performances to free music education for underserved kids. The experience with underserved communities exposed us to some of the most pressing issues our community faces, such as the ever-increasing mental health challenges and social injustices stemming from the racial wealth gap in underrepresented communities like Baltimore. Music, the tool we initially decided to use to soothe senior residents with Alzheimer’s, has now become a much more powerful transformative force, and our project has become a platform to fight for social justice.
During the holidays, we cheer young children battling life-threatening illnesses in hospitals, connect with peers at orphanages through melodies, and tutor low-income children who would otherwise have no access to music. We have hosted charity performances to raise mental health awareness and funds for mental disease research. Recently, we started surveying hundreds of public schools in Greater Baltimore with the intention of lobbying for increased music funding in underserved public schools. Our mission continues to grow. Our project has touched countless lives and united our community, gaining support from Maryland’s delegates and music educators.
This project is so significant to us because it taught us, “Don’t despise these small beginnings,” as they can grow into a big impact. These experiences also shaped our resilience, persistence, and leadership. We hope our work is just the beginning, sparking ripples that inspire others to act. If there is one message we could share with others, it is inspired by Rabindranath Tagore: “Influence life with life.”

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Determination
Determination has been the driving force behind every step of our journey. From creating the Peabody Harmony Project to expanding its reach, staying committed to our vision—even when the path was unclear—was essential. There were countless nights when tasks felt endless and progress seemed slow, but sheer determination kept us moving forward.
Advice: To cultivate determination, set clear goals that align with your passion. Break them into manageable steps, and celebrate small wins along the way. Remind yourself why you started whenever challenges arise—it’s easier to stay determined when your purpose remains in focus.

2. Adaptation
Adaptability is crucial when navigating unexpected challenges, whether it’s logistical hurdles or expanding the project’s mission from live performances to broader community initiatives. Managing a large volunteer group from diverse backgrounds meant that unexpected situations occurred frequently. Challenges ranged from performers leaving music supplies behind, no-shows, and last-minute cancellations to technical difficulties like unworkable pianos or students unable to log into Zoom meetings. At times, certain pieces on the program could not be performed due to religious sensitivities, and we had to adjust just as the performance began. As organizers, it was critical for us to find alternative solutions under pressure while calming the audience and performers.

However, adaptation also meant being open to new opportunities. For instance, last summer, we visited a family-owned senior facility with many paralyzed residents. When we arrived, the staff faced a personnel shortage and couldn’t transfer residents to the performance area. The staff felt embarrassed, and our volunteers were disappointed. Instead of canceling the performance, we proposed spreading out our volunteers to perform for paralyzed residents in their individual rooms. The result was an intimate and personal experience, creating deeper connections with the audience than ever before.

Advice: Build adaptability by being open to change and viewing obstacles as opportunities to learn and innovate. Embrace flexibility in your approach, and don’t be afraid to try new methods or pivot when needed. Staying calm and focused under pressure will strengthen your ability to adapt effectively.

3. Resilience
Resilience is what sustained us during difficult times when progress felt slow and challenges seemed insurmountable. It allowed us to recover from setbacks, learn from failures, and keep moving forward with renewed energy. Resilience taught us that obstacles are a natural part of growth, not a signal to give up.

Advice: Build resilience by focusing on your long-term vision. Reflect on past difficulties you’ve overcome, and draw strength from them. Practice self-care to maintain your mental and physical health, and view failures as stepping stones to success. Surround yourself with people who inspire and uplift you.

Final Thoughts:
Determination, adaptation, and resilience are interconnected qualities that form the backbone of any meaningful journey. For those just starting out, my advice is to stay committed to your purpose, remain flexible in your approach, and view setbacks as valuable lessons. When you focus on building these qualities, you’ll find that you’re not only able to overcome challenges but also grow stronger and more confident with each step forward.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner? 

We are always looking for individuals and organizations to partner or collaborate with. Anyone with a warm heart and a desire to give back to the community is welcome to join us. You can partner with us by becoming involved in our initiatives, funding our programs, or even simply following us on social media and helping to spread the word about our mission and values.

The mission of the Peabody Harmony Project is to use music to uplift the community, which, by definition, includes everyone. We aim to empower individuals through our project by providing opportunities to hone technical skills, presentation abilities, and leadership capacities.

As we work toward social justice, particularly for underrepresented youth, one of our biggest challenges is funding music supplies for those in need. Unfortunately, many students have had to drop out of our free music program because their families cannot afford essential supplies, which has been heartbreaking to witness. As high school students with limited funds, we are doing everything we can, but the need far exceeds our current resources.

As experienced musicians who have had formal training from a young age, we understand the tremendous benefits of music education. Music enhances brain-hand coordination, fosters an appreciation for beauty, and cultivates a deeper understanding of the world. It also teaches precision, dedication, and resilience—qualities that are crucial for personal growth. We strongly believe that all children, regardless of their circumstances, deserve equal access to the life-changing benefits of music education.

We need the support of capable individuals, businesses, and organizations to join us in this fight for social justice. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a difference. We will provide our fundraising link in the next section. Additionally, we welcome suggestions on how to create systematic change through legislative reform. For example, we are actively lobbying for increased education funding for public schools in Greater Baltimore, where access to music education is severely lacking.

Please visit our website (www.peabodyharmonyproject.org) for more information. We welcome all forms of cooperation. Together, we can make the world a better place to live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.peabodyharmonyproject.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peabodyharmonyproject/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PeabodyHarmonyProject

Image Credits

The Peabody Harmony Project