Sunday, September 6, 2009

An Incredible Opportunity

I will be leaving Juneau this October 3rd to accept a fellowship at the New England Conservatory in Boston to serve as one of ten fellows from across the country as part of their El Sistema USA program. This new initiative was inspired by the successful El Sistema program in Venezuela which helped transform the lives of students in poverty through orchestral music. Through a partnership between TED and the New England Conservatory, they are funding 10 fellows to initiate similar  programs here in the US.

I would like to thank the Juneau community and Glacier Valley Elementary School for helping to make this incredible opportunity happen.   They are also the reason why the conservatory supports my decision to come back to Juneau next summer and initiate a program there.  After viewing our Art is Elementary webpage, the conservatory immediately saw a community actively involved in making arts happen for our kids.  They would love to have one of the first US El Sistema programs be an Alaskan one.

I invite you to check this blog periodically for updates on my studies and travels throughout the coming year.  In the meantime, enjoy the video links I've provided in the sidebar highlighting this inspirational program in Venezuela.