In Spring 2025, Ashley Schlusselberg, recipient of the Eastman School of Music Institute for Music Leadership AMP Up Grant, presented Echoes and Origins, a degree recital inspired by Jewish identity, memory, and cultural heritage. As part of her award, Ashley brought music beyond the concert hall through a series of community engagement performances across the Greater Rochester area. She connected with local synagogues, Jewish senior homes, and Jewish organizations to share selections from her recital, offering musical previews alongside conversations about the cultural and personal significance of each piece. These interactive performances had the aim of fostering connection, reflection, and dialogue between artist and audience—building excitement for the official recital and deepening community ties through music.