Jason Amos (’08-’10) is the violist of the Boston Public Quartet ,the ensemble-in-residence of MusiConnects, an organization that connects professional musicians with elementary school students at the Chittick School in Boston’s Mattapan neighborhood. As part of his role, Jason teaches viola to young students. MusiConnects is a CMW-inspired initiative, now in its fifth year.
Carole Bestvater (‘09-‘11) is happily adjusting to life as a graduate student at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Canada. She writes “the city is gorgeous: it is full of colorful houses, friendly people and great music. (It reminds me of Providence, in fact!) The program here keeps me really busy, but I have still found time to make new friends and explore the wonders that this place has to offer.”
Laura Cetilia (’06-‘08) recently became the new executive director of the Community String Project in Bristol, RI. CSP began in 2009 with the goal of offering affordable and accessible string lessons to kids and families in the East Bay area. In addition to her work in Bristol, Laura continues teach in CMW’s Media Lab and perform with husband Mark in Mem1, an electroacoustic ensemble that combines cello and electronics.
Chloe Kline (’06-’08) is CMW’s Education Director / Resident Musician and was centrally involved in WolfBrown’s recent participatory evaluation of CMW’s youth programs. Most recently, she coached the Nelson String Quartet.
Aaron McFarlane (’09-’11) is the director of a brand new El Sistema-inspired center in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. Following the success of Sistema New Brunswick's first center in Moncton, the Saint John program offers fifty at-risk children free group music education three hours/day, five days/week. Aaron is enjoying being home in Canada again, although he misses Nick's on Broadway very, very dearly.
Rachel Panitch (’07-’09) is enrolled in a graduate program in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory. She writes “I have peers from Cyprus, Iran, Australia, Bulgaria, and all around the US. We're all developing our personal performance styles by learning from each other and each other's music. And I'm having fun getting to know Boston!” Rachel is also continuing her work directing the Rhode Island Fiddle Project, which is now in its third year.
Adrienne Taylor (’08-’10) graduated from the Abreu Fellows Program at the New England Conservatory in June and is now back at CMW piloting her own El Sistema-inspired program with CMW students. Adrienne is teaching a beginner class once a week to six- and seven-year-olds. The class teaches pre-instrument skills including singing, ear training, rhythm and coordination. She is also teaching cello at the RI Philharmonic Music School in East Providence, and she is currently touring the United States with the Sphinx Virtuosi chamber orchestra.
Arlyn Valencia Thobaben (’07-’09) is in her final year of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Florida. She writes “I'm happy to report that I've completed the majority of didactic work and am now working in the field on my clinical internships! I've completed my orthopedics rotation, am now in my geriatrics rotation at a skilled nursing facility, and will finish up the year in acute care and pediatrics. I have enjoyed sharing my musical side with all of my peers, teachers, and patients of all ages. Additionally, my experience at CMW helped me jump in headfirst to fill a leadership role in a fledgling student-run project called the Equal Access Clinic, a community pro bono clinic.”
Learn more about our two-year Fellowship Program here.
-Minna Choi, Fellowship Program Director
