This year's experimental music concert will feature pieces written by CMW student Liam Hopkins, Media Lab guest teacher Sakiko Mori, and local composer Forrest Larson. The performers include CMW's Music Lab and Phase II students, IMPS participants, and members of the CMW Players.
Our experimental music class started last fall as a part of CMW's Media Lab. The class has been focused on exploring different ways to make and listen to sounds and compose both in traditional and non-traditional ways. Our goal is to find a way of making sounds and compositions that works for each of us individually and excites us. See posts about this class on the Media Lab website.
The concert on June 2 at 7:00 pm (venue TBD very shortly–check back in a day or two) is the result of our work together this year, and it will include a couple of pieces that we made in the class, and also there will be two pieces that are composed by local composers, specifically for us to perform in this concert.
We are very excited for the IMPS musicians to be a part of this concert. Even with limited rehearsal time, it will be fun!
-Sakiko Mori, Media Lab guest artist
All of us at CMW are thrilled to welcome back Carole Bestvater for a six-week residency from May 8 to June 11. Carole completed CMW's two-year Fellowship Program last June and subsequently enrolled in a Masters Program in Newfoundland.
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I had an exciting and bustling year in St. John's, Newfoundland. I recently finished the first year my grad program at Memorial University and it was full of new faces, lots and lots of music, and a different flavour of colourful houses. So flavourful in fact, that the downtown area of St. John's has been nicknamed "Jellybean Row" for all the colourful houses that line the streets.
 It's no wonder that the houses are so bright and happy looking, because the fog rolls in and envelopes St. John's an average of 200 days a year. Someone told me "Oh, Carole, you'll get sick of the fog reeeeeally fast" when I exclaimed my sheer awe at how mystical and beautiful it seemed. To my credit, as a person who loves sunshine, I haven't gotten tired of the foggy days yet. Indeed, I moved to a ruggedly beautiful place: with craggy coastlines that invite seasonal icebergs, and wind so strong that people walk at 45 degree angles to avoid getting blown over.
 As much as I like my new home, I am so SO happy to be back in Providence and at CMW for a prolonged visit! The moment I saw the skyline of Providence, my heart did an extra quick flutter of happiness. CMW has kept me busy so far: I've been teaching Minna's students while she is on maternity leave with darling Juna Maya, helping Chloe prepare for the Institute for Musicianship and Public Service, and rehearsing Verklarte Nacht with the CMW Players for the June 8-10 reunion weekend.
It has been such a heart warming experience to be back at CMW. Every moment at CMW is a joyful one for me, regardless of what I'm doing. It evokes a sense of "home away from home"–and for me, it still remains one of the most wonderful places with the most wonderful people in it, and even though it's only for a short while, I am so happy to be part of the adventure again!
-Carole Bestvater, Fellow '09-'11
Read the May edition of The Ensemble, Tricia Tunstall and Eric Booth's monthly publication about the growing El Sistema-inspired movement in the United States by downloading it here.
Please join us at the D'Abate Elementary School in Olneyville on Friday evening to celebrate the following high school seniors who will be presenting their "swan song" performances after long careers as CMW students. Download the flier here. (Call Liz in the CMW office for driving directions so you can avoid Friday late afternoon traffic in Olneyville Square!)
Matthew Ricci, cello (11 years)
Paola Pena, violin (7 years)
Enma Cabrera, violin (5 years)
Natasha Rosario, cello (11 years)
Alexis Nelson, viola (6 years)
Chad and I enjoyed our week-long residency at Community MusicWorks, and felt privileged to be asked to return for three wonderful concerts! It was great working with all the musicians who are not only wonderful performers, but also dedicated educators and great people.
Mozart – Piano Trio in Eb Major – Rondeaux (Chloe, Chad & Amy)
Stravinsky – Suite Italienne – Minuetto e finale (Sara & Amy)
Beethoven – Piano trio in Bb Major – Tema con variazioni (Chad, Heath & Amy)
It was a special treat to visit with Varda again and rehearse chamber music in her living room. Thanks to CMW for providing us with a spacious apartment for the week.
And a very special thank you to two CMW moms: Candelaria, who was a perfect companion for 4-year-old Alexander throughout the week, and Linda for watching Alexander during the Bell Street Chapel concert.
-Amy I-Lin Cheng
More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account.
Congratulations to our friends at Music Haven on two recent major accomplishments, including a $25,000 grant award from the National Endowment for the Arts and a second consecutive year as a finalist for the National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award, a program of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.
Stay tuned for another CMW Players/Haven String Quartet collaboration next season!
Postcard from Capetown received recently from CMW alumna Sidney Argueta (Brown, class of '13) who is pursuing a concentration in public health. She writes, "From India to Argentina to South Africa, I've learned how much power a civil society can have and how much change they can bring to a nation, given that they have a united, unanimous and clear vision."
Recently we were thrilled to learn that Sebastian will receive an honorary degree from his alma mater, Brown University, during Commencement ceremonies next weekend. We invite you to attend a special presentation he will give in conjunction with this award on Saturday, May 26, at 1:00 pm, in the Granoff Center for the Performing Arts on Angell Street.
The title of the presentation is Education, Music, and Possibility: Community MusicWorks at 15. Join Sebastian, Sidney Argueta (CMW '09, Brown '13), and Natasha Rosario (CMW '12, Brown '16) for a panel discussion about where CMW has been over the past 15 seasons and where it is headed in the next 15 years. Here are details.
The honorary degree will be conferred by President Ruth Simmons on Sunday, May 27, at approximately 12:45 p.m., on the College Green. Details about the eight honorary degree recipients are posted here.
Congratulations Sebastian!
-Heath Marlow, Managing Director
Several of our friends who were treated to Jonathan's incredible piano recital at The RISD Museum on Sunday evening inquired about where to find his CD, the first in the series of nine discs that will be created as he traverses all 32 Beethoven Sonatas. Here is the page on his website where you can link to various online retailers.
-Heath Marlow, Managing Director
More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account.
With funding from the Prince Charitable Trusts, CMW has undertaken a fascinating research project this spring: exploring the feasibility of creating additional music education opportunities for youth in Newport, RI. What could an after-school music program look like like in Newport, given that city's unique demographics, geography, resources, and interest groups?
Led by Ariana, Ealain, Emmy, and Robin, a large group convened at CMW on Friday, May 11 to learn about their research to date and to discuss four potential music education models, each presented by a Fellow.
Next up, the conversation moves to Newport where the Fellows will present their findings and ideas for feedback on Wednesday evening, May 30. If you are interested in attending, or know someone in Newport who would be interested to attend, please see this flier.
In mid-June, the Fellows will summarize and document this exploration in a document that will be mailed off to the Prince Charitable Trusts.
-Heath Marlow, Managing Director
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