ROCCO PRIOLETTI
Staff writer
At 10:45 a.m., Natalie Merchant will speak on the importance of arts education during today’s morning lecture in the Amphitheater.
Merchant’s musical career began in 1981 as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.
In 1993, Merchant left the band at the height of their popularity, releasing her debut album Tigerlily subsequently in 1995. Since then, the Chautauqua County native has released nine solo records.
Beyond her career as a recording musician, Merchant is an active participant in arts education initiatives. Merchant previously volunteered at a Head Start in Troy, New York, as its artist-in-residence, teaching music, poetry and theater to low-income preschool-age children.
“It’s a very direct kind of exchange. It’s very powerful, very fulfilling, but it’s also a very visceral kind of education for me about what children need and what needs aren’t being met for so many children,” Merchant said in an interview with Forbes. “It feels like I’m dealing with a microcosm of the world, of the entire world, in these children.”
Merchant reflected on the importance of educational arts programs When prompted on how such programs are primarily affected during public school budget cuts in an interview with The New Yorker.
“We’re killing our culture. I believe early childhood and elementary school are the most deeply rooted, character-forming experiences. And it’s not just what the children are learning; it’s what teachers can learn about the children, through watching them be creative. All of that is lost when the arts are removed from the daily lives of children,” Merchant said in the interview with The New Yorker.
In 2025, the National Head Start Association partnered with Merchant to deliver her “Cabinet of Wonder” program to classrooms all around the country. Encompassing 17 original songs inspired by the children’s poetry of Mother Goose, the Cabinet of Wonder curriculum offers children an art-centered early learning experience. Through music videos and interactive classroom activities, the multimedia project will educate nearly 750,000 students in classrooms and educational settings throughout the country.
The inception of “Cabinet of Wonder” arose nearly eight years ago, during Merchant’s initial time volunteering at Head Start. There, she held an original musical for students titled Happy Birthday, Mother Goose!
Soon, Merchant will bring the “Cabinet of Wonder” repertoire out of the classroom and into the Amphitheater during a free admission, all-ages concert. On Aug. 2, Merchant will be backed by the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra for “Cabinet of Wonder Live!” Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Stuart Chafetz, the concert highlights music from Merchant’s forthcoming album of the same name, Cabinet of Wonder, set to release Aug. 21.
Thursday, Merchant will be joined by Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer Deborah Sunya Moore for the 4 p.m. Masters Series Masterclass in Norton Hall. During their conversation, Merchant will reflect on using artistic mediums as a means to promote societal change.
