A note from Sistema Fellow David France during his Venezuelan residency:

“Greetings from Coro, Venezuela. If I don’t return from Venezuela, you can find me in a small neighborhood in Coro called Panela. It is the most dangerous neighborhood in town, and here you will find a small music initiative founded less than one year ago by Isandra Campos. Since starting with five kids in her living room, she has moved out of her home and is now living with her mother so that the neighborhood kids can have orchestra rehearsals every day of the week in her former house.

Today when I arrived, there was no room for me to have violin lessons, so a neighbor across the street let me and three kids practice in their living room. By the end of our time the entire family was in the living room listening, and a crowd of kids fought for space in the window to listen to the music. At the back of her house Isandra keeps chickens, selling the eggs for one bolívar each to buy music for the students. It has been a profound week.”

Read more in the April edition of The Ensemble, Tricia Tunstall and Eric Booth's monthly publication about the growing El Sistema-inspired movement in the United States.

More photos by Jori is CMW's Flickr account. Download the concert program.

Visit our friends at Music Haven here.

Thanks to FirstWorks, CMW students were treated to a special workshop featuring visiting musicians from Pakistan, including Arif Lohar, a folk singer who performs contemporary interpretation of traditional Punjabi songs.

More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account.

Earlier this month, CMW's own "violinist virtuoso" Jesse Holstein was invited to perform Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Tri-County Symphonic Band (Cape Cod). Fortunately for us, a local critic with a video camera was in the audience.

The spring edition of The Works is in the mail. You can also download it from CMW's website by clicking here. Don't forget to enter Liz and Emmy's photo caption contest!

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?