Meaningful Partnerships


In Los Angeles, with friends Dan Berkowitz and Susan Siman during the first YOLA Symposium (May, 2009).


Exciting news for music and education.

The La Philharmonic and Bard College will be collaborating in Take a Stand, an important educational iniative to advance aspects of the El Sistema movement in the United States. See the press release here: http://www.bard.edu/news/releases/pr/fstory.php?id=2179

I admire Bard’s commitment to education reform and the LA Phil’s vision for music as an instrument for social change. During the past couple of years, I’ve had the honor to cultivate meaningful friendships with these two organizations: studying as a Conducting Fellow at Bard College and guest conducting with the LA Phil's YOLA Orchestras at Expo Center. This partnership is a natural fit and an important step to connect and train classroom teachers in the El Sistema model.

I am excited about the future of the El Sistema movement in the United States and look forward to seeing more regional and national partnerships develop to sustain this important work. Building frameworks that connects resources, ideas, and best practices are all important steps to develop more effective iniatives at all levels.

In the spirit of partnership, the third class of Abreu Fellows at New England Conservatory recently collaborated with the Longy School of Music of Bard College  and the Conservatory Lab Charter School to host a workshop for El Sistema-inspired teachers in Boston. It was a fantastic event, bringing an important perspective to teaching in the El Sistema model. Master teacher Lorrie Heagy (Abreu Fellow ’10) and current Alaska Teacher of the Year, led inspiring seminars in music pedagogy and practice. More than 40 leaders and educators were in attendance, including representatives from the People's Music School in Chicago, the Hartford Symphony, and Community Music Works. The event culminated in a rehearsal/performance by the Charter School's Dudamel Orchestra and guests, led by conductor David Malek. Much praise to education directors at Longy, Elsje Kibler-Vermaas and Judy Bose, for organizing this meaningful event.
 
What's ahead:

The Abreu Fellows will be visiting  in Los Angeles (January 2012) to present the findings of a substantial nation-wide needs assessment survey during the 2012 YOLA Symposium. It is the first comprehensive survey of the El Sistema inspired programs in the United States. To register for the event, please visit:
http://www.laphil.com/education/yola-symposium/index-2012.cfm

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