A dramatization of the true story of Roberta Guaspari, portrayed by Meryl Streep, who co-founded the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and fought for music education funding in New York City public schools, the film also stars Aidan Quinn, Angela Bassett, Gloria Estefan in her film debut, Jane Leeves, Kieran Culkin and Jay O. Sanders.

In 1981 New York City, violinist Roberta Guaspari has recently divorced her U.S. Navy officer husband Charles Demetras, who has instead decided to pursue a romantic relationship with a friend of hers named Lana Holden.

Encouraged by her mother Assunta to return to the workforce for the sake of her two sons Alexi and Nicholas, Guaspari attempts to rebuild her life and reconnects with a former classmate named Brian Turner while working as a gift-wrapper at a department store; recalling her childhood love for playing the violin, he arranges for her to be introduced to Janet Williams, the head teacher and principal of East Harlem's Central Park East School.

Determined to fight the budget cuts, she enlists the support of former pupils, parents and teachers, and over the next two years, she plans a benefit concert, Fiddlefest, to raise money so that the program can continue.

However, Arnold Steinhardt, a violinist in the Guarneri Quartet and the husband of a publicist friend, enlists the support of other well-known musicians, including Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman.

On the day of Fiddlefest, Guaspari and her students perform with Perlman, Steinhardt, Stern, Mark O'Connor, Michael Tree, Charles Veal Jr., Karen Briggs, Sandra Park, Diane Monroe, and Joshua Bell, increasing donations and making the event a massive success.

Itzhak Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Isaac Stern, Mark O'Connor, Michael Tree, Charles Veal Jr., Karen Briggs, Sandra Park, Diane Monroe, and Joshua Bell all cameo as themselves in the film's recreation of the Carnegie Hall benefit concert (at which all were actually present).

"[2] Madonna was originally signed to play the role of Guaspari, but left the project before filming began, citing "creative differences" with Craven.

The film has a 64% approval rating from Rotten Tomatoes based on 91 critical reviews; the consensus explains, "Meryl Streep's depiction of an ordinary person doing extraordinary things transcends, inspires, and entertains.