Recent visitors to CMW and inspired by the proliferation of El Sistema-inspired after-school activity in the US, the New London (CT) Community Orchestra is now accepting resumes from people interested in teaching after-school string instrument lessons starting in the fall. This is a part-time position. The lessons will be supplemented by volunteers/mentors from the orchestra. Since this is a new program, we will also be seeking input from applicants on course design.

Applicants should have demonstrated ability to teach beginners and elementary school students in all string-instrument skills — and to lead ensembles. Mastery of multiple string instruments is a plus.

Please include a cover letter explaining your reasons for applying. Resumes can be sent via e-mail to newlondonorchestra@gmail.com

For more information Contact Joan Winters 860-691-0849 or Tom Clark 860-608-1780.

-Minna Choi, Fellowship Program Director

20 CMW cellists performed at the Winter Farmers Market at Hope Artiste Village in Pawtucket on Wednesday, March 21. Photo by Sara.

Dear Sebastian,

Its been exactly twenty days now since I've come back from my spontaneous trip to the Dominican Republic. The plans were last minute when we found out my great-grandma was really sick. So, my mom, my violin and I took a flight to DR and we stayed there for three full days. I brought my violin because whenever I talked to Mama (my great grandma) over the phone here in RI she asks me the same question: "When are you coming to play violin for me?" Really, the whole point to go to DR was to give Mama what she was waiting for before it was too late. The experience was emotional and amazing, finally getting to play for Mama and it was worthwhile for the both of us.

My trip to DR changed me a little. You may not see it but I do. After seeing my family, especially Mama, and finding out things I didn't before, I came to cherish my family much more and learned to not worry too much about the material things. When I played the violin for my great-grandma, I felt accomplished and extremely happy with what I had done and I still am. I also realized that she's the only Mama I will ever have and some new cellphone can wait.

It also just so happens that the Youth Salon is around the corner… this Friday. And our objective is to speak to our audience about cultural identities and also show it through our music. I've been to DR many times before but since I had the idea of the Youth Salon and CMW in my head while I was there, it got me thinking more. I've come to realize that I always try to be as Dominican as possible and be able to connect with my family with none of my "American" interfering. But in DR, everyone tries to be as American as possible. For instance, they've inherited our motorcycles which have pretty much become their taxis, they wear marked brands like Aeropostale or Hollister, I even heard American club music blasting on the streets. That's something we talked about in our Phase II discussions: how America is somehow making its way to other countries, yet people in America try to stay attached to their native culture (like me). In a way, it's a little ironic.

Overall, this trip allowed me to find myself and my cultural identity, just a little more.

-Alana, Phase II

During his two-week residency at CMW earlier this month, Knut Erik Jensen introduced us to the little-known Norwegian composer Geirr Tveitt. Here is a short piece written as a birthday present for Nadia Boulanger, Tveitt's teacher, performed by Knut at The RISD Museum on March 8.

Tveitt – A Nadia di Norvegia

Another performance, given at Knut's birthday dinner hosted by Sebastian and Minna, was sadly not shared with the Providence public. However, thanks to YouTube, an earlier version is available for viewing online. Maybe we deserve a public reprise during Knut's next visit?

Guest photograher: Noraliza Grullon; more photos in CMW's Flickr account.

William Stalnaker String Trio – II. Allegro non troppo

Mahler Piano quartet in A min

Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G min. – III. Scherzo

CMW, in conjunction with the experimental music series Ctrl+Alt+Repeat, will present a concert in commemoration of the John Cage Centennial on Friday, March 23. The evening will feature some of Cage's works for strings, voice (sung and spoken), percussion, and electronics, realized by local musicians, the CMW Players, and students in CMW's Media Lab.

The program includes a performance of Vocalise for a Man with a Twelve-Tone Name (1982) by Katherine Bergeron, who gave its premiere in 1983 at Wesleyan University. Also on this program are two of Cage's "number pieces" written in the last six years of Cage's life: Three² (1991) for three percussionists and Four (1988) for string quartet, performed by the CMW players. Also featured is Radio Music (1956), performed by Mark Cetilia, and selections from Cage's Song Books (1970) and Indeterminacy: New Aspects of Form in Instrumental and Electronic Music (1959), performed simultaneously by CMW students and local composer Forrest Larson.

CMW students (with Laura) preparing for March 23

The evening will culminate in a performance of For Cage 99 by Chicago-based composer Nomi Epstein, a piece that invites the audience to contemplate an excerpt from Cage's writing "On Robert Rauschenberg, Artist, and His Work" (from Silence, 1961). Come play a part in an eclectic evening of music and celebrate the 100th birth year of one of the most original thinkers of the 20th century!

Additional details here.

-Laura Cetilia, co-founder of CTRL+ALT+REPEAT and CMW Media Lab teacher

More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account.

A composition by former CMW resident musician and PSQ member Jessie Montgomery. Commissioned by the JUMP! Dance Company of RI in 2008, this piece was performed (and recorded) by the PSQ at the RISD Auditorium. Find more recordings of Jessie's music at her website.

Check out Can Music Make Us Civil? the article about Music & Civil Society by Thomas Cabaniss in the most recent issue of Chamber Music, a publication of Chamber Music America. Photo of the Nelson Quartet (CMW alumni) by Jori Ketten.