Christopher Rochester is working to change music education in Minnesota by creating and expanding equitable music programming. As creator and director of the Global Music Initiative (GMI) at the MacPhail Center for Music, Rochester works to diversify music education in the state by making instruction more representative and respectful of cultures and traditions. Based in Minneapolis, MacPhail is the largest community music school in the U.S. and the largest employer of musicians in the state. GMI reaches into communities, hosting concerts, workshops, and events celebrating musical diversity. GMI’s flagship artist-in-residence program brings musicians from around the world to immerse students in a diverse range of musical traditions. Since its 2021 inception, the program has reached more than 7,000 students in Minnesota.