Juneau Student Symphony Collaborative Concert

Juneau, Alaska Music Matters and Juneau Student Symphony perform "Life of the Child"

While studying in Boston, Venezuela and Scotland for the Abreu Fellowship, I witnessed professional orchestra members playing alongside the youth of their communities as a way to help inspire, play authentic music together and demonstrate to their communities that the orchestra is invested in music education.  One powerful example was Gustavo Dudamel's decision to open the LA Phil's season at the Hollywood Bowl with YOLA (Youth Orchestras of Los Angeles) kids playing alongside LA Phil orchestra members.  It was very inspiring both for the musicians, both young and old, and a packed crowd of new audience members.

I hope to see Juneau foster the same kind of mentorship:  kindergarten violinists performing with middle/high school students and members of the Juneau Symphony so that they can experience in one concert the trajectory of their musical life from age five to adulthood.

Rick Trostel, conductor of the Juneau Student Symphony, took that first step by inviting JAMM to perform in the symphony's spring concert.  Rick composed a piece specifically for this collaborative event called The Life of the Child.  Our young musicians echoed the simple melody of the orchestra to represent musically how children learn from their parents.  We played to a packed house bringing new audience members to both organizations.

I want to thank Rick Trostel for seeing the long term opportunity that our young JAMM violinists and their families can bring to the Juneau Student and Juneau Symphonies.