Harmony on Pointe

About the Film – Harmony on Pointe

Harmony on Pointe is a short documentary that explores the powerful collaboration between the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra and the School of Ballet Arizona.

Through the dedication of young dancers and musicians, the film offers an intimate look at the discipline, passion, and teamwork required to bring live performance to life. As these students work together balancing rehearsal, education, and artistic growth, they discover that their individual talents become something far greater when combined.

At its heart, Harmony on Pointe celebrates the transformative power of arts education. The film highlights how programs like these nurture creativity, build confidence, and foster meaningful collaboration among young artists.

By capturing this unique partnership between music and dance, the film invites audiences to witness not only the beauty of performance, but the process, mentorship, and community that make it possible.

Harmony on Pointe serves as both a celebration of youth artistry and a reminder of why investing in arts education matters.

Directors and Conductors

Adam Benavides – Filmmaker, Director
Adam Benavides is a seasoned filmmaker, director, and editor with a passion for storytelling that highlights diverse voices and artistic collaboration. As the founder of Adam Joel Creative, he has led a wide range of projects, from commercials and social media campaigns to documentary films and theatrical productions.

His latest work, “Harmony on Pointe”, captures the inspiring partnership between The School of Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras, showcasing the power of youth arts education. Adam’s work has been featured in collaborations with Ballet Arizona, Arizona Opera, Smithsonian Magazine, and the Phoenix Art Museum, reflecting his dedication to impactful and visually compelling storytelling.

Maria Simonetti – Rehearsal Director, Ballet Arizona
A native of Buenos Aires, Maria Simonetti trained as a dancer at Teatro Colon and danced with La Joven Guardia of Ballet Nacional de Cuba before becoming assistant to Laura Alonso and Regisseur (stage director) for Cuballet. She was on the faculties of the Magda Aunon School of Ballet, Pittsburgh’s Point Park College, and the Baltimore School for the Arts before becoming ballet mistress for the esteemed Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in 1995. As assistant to choreographer Daniel Ezralow she helped create the multi-media production Mandala for a South American tour; Torino Notte di Stelle, an arts special for Italian national television (RAI Uno); choreography for Pope John Paul II’s celebration of International Youth Day; and Aeros, an innovative showcase for the Romanian National Gymnastics Team. On her own, Ms. Simonetti staged Lady Lost Found, for the Bratislava Dance Theatre in Slovakia, and the pas de six from Bournonville’s Napoli for the National Ballet of Greece. She became rehearsal director for Ballet Arizona in 1997 but continues her active career as a visiting artist. She returns to Hubbard Street Dance Chicago every summer as a guest teacher and was engaged in 2006 in a similar role by Montreal’s Les Grands Ballets Canadiens.

Matthew Kasper – Artistic Director, Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras
American conductor Matthew Kasper has established himself as a dynamic force in the artistic communities where he has performed. His ability to seamlessly bridge American music of the last century with its traditional European roots grants him a vast and diverse repertoire, with a particular devotion to elevating the works of composers such as Ives, Shostakovich, Weill, Copland, and Jessie Montgomery, among others.

Kasper’s versatility has been on full display through an array of innovative programs during his tenure as Assistant and then Resident Conductor of The Phoenix Symphony from 2015 to 2023. Over the course of more than 250 performances—ranging from subscription series and pops concerts to educational initiatives and chamber orchestra performances—he has captivated audiences and solidified his presence as a major artistic figure in Phoenix. Notable highlights from his time include masterful interpretations of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Ives’ Second Symphony, Handel’s Messiah, and a two-year tenure as conductor for the prestigious Bösendorfer Piano Competition. In recognition of his artistic excellence and profound impact on the community, he was promoted to Resident Conductor in 2018.

Beyond Phoenix, Kasper’s reputation for compelling and emotionally resonant performances has garnered national and international recognition. In 2020, the Solti Foundation U.S. honored him with a prestigious Career Assistance Award. More recently, he participated in Jukka-Pekka Saraste’s highly regarded LEAD! program for young conductors, further honing his craft among some of the world’s top conducting talents.

A sought-after collaborator, Kasper has undertaken guest and cover-conducting engagements across the United States, Asia, and Europe. Recent seasons have seen him working with esteemed ensembles such as the San Francisco Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, Milwaukee Ballet, Rochestrer Philharmonic, Tucson Symphony, Evergreen Symphony in Taiwan, San Diego Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and the Cleveland Orchestra. He has also conducted the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy, Opéra National de Lorraine, Queens Symphony Orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony, and the Salt River Ballet.

Equally accomplished in the orchestra pit as he is on the concert stage, Kasper was named Principal Conductor of Ballet Arizona, a historic appointment marking the first time in the company’s history that such a title has been granted. This prestigious position came after his last-minute yet triumphant leadership of two major productions—Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Prokofiev’s demanding Romeo and Juliet—during the 2021-22 season. His leadership in ballet has also extended to frequent guest conducting appearances with New York City Ballet, where he has conducted All-Balanchine programs, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, in addition to leading the company on tour at the Kennedy Center.

As an opera conductor, Kasper excels in both classic repertoire and contemporary works, contributing to numerous acclaimed productions in the U.S. and abroad. His portfolio includes world premiere operas by Gerald Barry and Bruce Saylor, alongside celebrated performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, Britten’s Owen Wingrave, and Bernstein’s Candide, among others.

Dedicated to expanding access to music education, Kasper has served as Artistic and General Director of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras (PYSO) since 2020. Under his visionary leadership, the organization has forged meaningful collaborations that have greatly benefited young musicians. These include a conducting fellowship with Arizona State University and full-scale ballet productions in partnership with Ballet Arizona School, featuring Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Glazunov’s Raymonda, and the world premiere of a new ballet set to Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, choreographed by Ib Andersen. Passionate about making music accessible to all children, Kasper continues to build vital relationships to realize this vision. In recognition of his impact as a transformative arts leader, he was named a 2023 Piper Fellow by the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a prestigious award granted to a select group of nonprofit leaders, providing significant financial support for professional and artistic development.

Kasper holds degrees in violin performance from Queens College’s Aaron Copland School of Music, where he studied under Burton Kaplan, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts, where he trained with Shmuel Ashkenasi. His chamber music training includes instruction from Marcy Rosen, Daniel Phillips, Robert Chen, and Roger Chase. He also earned a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from Queens College under Maurice Peress and pursued further studies as a scholarship student at the esteemed Pierre Monteux School for Conductors.

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Matthew Kasper currently resides in Phoenix with his wife, three children, and their beloved golden retrievers, Bear and Lucy.

Karen Leland – Chief Communications Officer, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Karen Leland leads communications and public relations for Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, a private, place-based philanthropy that supports Maricopa County’s nonprofit sector.  Leland’s work focuses on strategies that help bring the positive impacts and outcomes made by its grantees to the forefront. Before joining the Trust, she led communications and marketing operations for several initiatives and units at Arizona State University, including the Global Institute of Sustainability, the Office of Research and Economic Affairs, and Morrison Institute for Public Policy. Leland also worked in economic development serving organizations such as Greater Phoenix Economic Council, among others. She is a proud graduate of both Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and Phoenix College.

They have to be ready for anything—at a moment’s notice things could change with a movement or sound yet it has to look and feel seamless for the audience.

– Maria Simonetti

Directors Note by Adam Benavides

Ever since I was young, I’ve been deeply affected by the arts. I grew up immersed in theatre, eventually going on to double major in both Theatre and Film in college. That path created a love for two worlds that beautifully complement one another: the live, ephemeral magic of the performing arts, and the ability of film to capture those moments and preserve them, to share them with audiences far beyond the stage.

That intersection of live performance and cinematic storytelling is what ultimately led to the creation of Harmony on Pointe.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ballet Arizona for many years, and through that time I developed a close relationship with Maria Simonetti, their Rehearsal Director, as well as Ib Andersen, who at the time served as Artistic Director. After collaborating on many videos and promotional projects together, we built a strong level of trust and creative partnership.

Maria, who is deeply passionate about youth education as well as dance, introduced me to a remarkable collaboration between the School of Ballet Arizona and the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras. When I first witnessed these young musicians and dancers working together, I was blown away not only by their talent, but by the spirit of collaboration happening in the room.

There was something deeply moving about it. A sense of artistic purpose. A reminder of how powerful the arts can be in shaping young people and bringing them together through shared creativity.
It felt both nostalgic and inspiring.

Very quickly it became clear that this was something more people should see, not just as a performance, but as a story worth sharing. A reminder of why programs like this matter. That’s when Maria introduced me to Matthew Kasper, Artistic Director of the Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestras, who loved the idea of capturing this collaboration, not just for promotion but as a short film.

And so Harmony on Pointe was born.

It has been an absolute joy to steward this story. I’m incredibly grateful to the dedicated film team and collaborators who helped bring it to life, many of whom share the same deep love for the arts that inspired this project in the first place.

As the film continues its journey through festivals and audiences, we hope it sparks conversations about the importance of arts education, collaboration, and the incredible potential that emerges when young artists are given the opportunity to create together.

For us, this feels like only the beginning.

Adam Benavides
Director, Harmony on Pointe

In the News – Harmony on Pointe

The latest news about the film.

Upcoming Festival Screenings

Harmony on Pointe continues its festival journey, connecting audiences through the powerful story of young artists discovering discipline, collaboration, and creativity through music and dance. We’re honored to share the film with audiences across the country and invite you to join us at an upcoming screening.

American Documentary Film Festival, Palm Springs, CA

Palm Springs Cultural Center
Friday, March 7
2:30 PM Screening

Harmony on Pointe has been selected to screen at the American Documentary Film Festival, one of the premier documentary festivals in the country celebrating nonfiction storytelling and independent filmmakers from around the world.

If you are in the Palm Springs area, we would love for you to attend the screening and experience the film with fellow documentary lovers.

Tickets and festival information:
https://www.amdocfilmfest.com/

Phoenix Film Festival, Phoenix, AZ

Harkins Scottsdale 101, Phoenix, Arizona
Saturday April 11 @ 11:25am
Tuesday April 14 @ 6:55pm
Saturday April 18 @ 11:25am

We are thrilled that Harmony on Pointe will also be screening at the Phoenix Film Festival, one of Arizona’s largest and most beloved film events. This hometown screening is especially meaningful, as the film celebrates the incredible young artists and organizations that make Arizona’s arts community so vibrant.

Festival information:
https://www.phoenixfilmfestival.com/

Get Tickets Here!

Past Festival Screenings & Awards

Since its premiere, Harmony on Pointe has been honored at several film festivals across the United States, receiving awards and recognition for its celebration of youth arts, music, and dance.

International Fine Arts Film Festival, Santa Barbara, CA

Finalist
November 2025

The International Fine Arts Film Festival highlights films that celebrate creativity and artistic expression across disciplines including music, dance, and visual arts.

Tucson Film Festival, Tucson, AZ

Official Selection
October 9–12, 2025

The Tucson Film Festival celebrates independent film and storytelling, bringing filmmakers and audiences together in Arizona’s vibrant arts community.

Charlotte Film Festival, Charlotte, NC

Official Selection
September 23–28 2025

One of the longest-running film festivals in the southeastern United States, the Charlotte Film Festival showcases independent films from around the world.

Show Low Film Festival, Show Low, AZ

Finalist
October 16–20, 2025

This Arizona-based festival celebrates independent cinema and emerging filmmakers while highlighting stories connected to the Southwest.

White Mountains Film Festival, Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ

Award Winner
2025 Festival

Held in Arizona’s scenic White Mountains, this festival celebrates independent films and regional filmmakers, bringing together artists and audiences for a weekend of storytelling and community.

Flagstaff International Film Festival, Flagstaff, AZ

Award Winner
August 16–17, 2025

Harmony on Pointe received an award at the Flagstaff International Film Festival, a regional showcase of independent filmmaking that highlights emerging storytellers and Arizona filmmakers.

Pointe Magazine: Learning From Each Other:

School of Ballet Arizona and Phoenix Youth Symphony Orchestra Work Together to Present Raymonda

Frontdoors Media: Not the Sam Old Song & Dance:

Collaboration brings young dancers and musicians together

Harmony on Pointe Awards

We’re thrilled to announce that Harmony on Pointe has been making waves on the film festival circuit! The film is a Winner at both the Flagstaff International Film Festival and the White Mountains Film Festival, a Finalist at the Show Low Film Festival, and an Official Selection at the Tucson Film Festival, Charlotte Film Festival, and the International Fine Arts Film Festival.

Where to Watch

Harmony on Pointe is currently on the film festival circuit, sharing its story with audiences around the country.

The film will be available to watch online here on our website in Fall 2026, once the festival run has concluded. Until then, the best way to experience the film and support its journey is by attending one of our festival screenings.

Visit our In the News section for the latest festival announcements, screening dates, and ticket information.

We hope to see you at a screening soon.