President of New England Conservatory Visits JAMM

Representatives from JAMM's 3rd Grade Program at Glacier Valley Stand with Tony Woodcock and Principal Ted Wilson at KTOO Studio.

Tony Woodock, President of the New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston, visited Juneau to see Juneau Alaska Music Matters (JAMM) in action.  NEC is the music conservatory that helped train fifty musicians passionate for music as a vehicle for social change.  Tony presented at a Juneau World Affairs Council event and shared JAMM's role in the globacl music education movement called El Sistema.  JAMM students were thrilled to open and close the show with live music, which aired on 360 North on June 20th.  Tony was impressed with JAMM's programming and size, as well as the joy, commitment, and discipline the students demonstrated throughout his stay.  Thank you, Tony and Viriginia Woodock, for visiting our beautiful community of Juneau!

JAMM 3rd Grade Orchestra Stand with Tony and Virginia Woodcock After Their Rehearsal

A Milestone: All Fifty Sistema Fellows Graduate

Celebrating the graduation of the final class of Sistema Fellows at New England Conservatory

It's hard to believe that nearly five years ago I started this blog to document my experiences as one of ten musicians selected to help realize Dr. Abreu's TED Prize wish of training fifty musicians passionate for music as social change.  This May, the last class of Sistema Fellows graduated from New England Conservatory marking the realization of Dr. Abreu's wish.  To celebrate this milestone, many Sistema Fellows attended the graduation and symposium that followed where we shared successes, lessons learned and ideas for sustaining our work in Sistema initiatives all across the country.  I was honored to attend and share how my training at the New England Conservatory prepared me for the work I am doing in Juneau through JAMM:  Juneau Alaska Music Matters.

Even though the New England Conservatory no longer will offer the training program, they have committed to investing in its fifty graduated Sistema Fellows through professional development and networking.  TED has maintained an Abreu's Wish Blog to document, share, and update its community on the status of Dr. Abreu's wish:  the Sistema Fellows program.  JAMM was featured in one of its postings.