Anonymous feedback from recent Institute for Musicianship and Public Service participants who traveled to Providence from Boston, New Haven, Oakland, New York City, Cleveland, Los Angeles, and Montreal, to name a few disparate locations.

"I thought you should know that IMPS has really changed everything for me. I know that the impact of it will continually emerge, but already I feel so inspired and ready to do what I've wanted to do since high school but didn't quite have the courage or the self-confidence. Now I realize that I CAN do it, and that I MUST do it. I have so much support, I am a part of my target community, and I have a vision and mission. Instead of saying 'I want to maybe start a program…' I am saying 'I am at the beginning stages of creating a music program…' I'm just so grateful for the opportunity to attend IMPS. I didn't think I was going to find the money to fly out, but a little whisper inside me kept telling me that I had to go to THIS one no matter what. Not the next one. And I'm so glad that I did."

"It was inspiring to see a variety of models that do their work in a unique way. It opened up even more possibilities. I also really valued the personal reflection in the small group work."

"The fear of getting into this line of work has virtually disappeared, thus inspiring me even more to go forth with our collective vision."

"The overall excitement and sense of purpose at IMPS, as well as the diversity and talent of the assembled artists, is wholly invigorating."

"The observation of both the established local arts initiatives and the enthusiasm, creativity, and motivation of the IMPS class and CMW staff has given me a sense of hope and possibility."

"Our discussion of service, as well as the ideologies of Freire and Greene have confirmed my belief in a new vision for what meaningful artistic and educational practices look like."

[Editor: More complete documentation from the recent IMPS in June coming this fall.]

In Newport in mid-June, the PSQ performed three miniatures by composer Geoff Hudson, wrapping up a project funded by the American Composers Forum to perform and document several new works that are representative of the composer's Quartet Project, an ambitious and multi-faceted effort previously detailed on this blog here and here. Enjoy the video!

Rachel Panitch is leaving her role as Resident Musician/Adminstrator at CMW to begin a graduate program at the New England Conservatory in Boston next month. All of us at CMW wish to congratulate Rachel on all that she has accomplished over the past four year, initially as a participant in our two-year Fellowship Program, and then as a core member of our staff for two years, during which time she also founded the Rhode Island Fiddle Project in nearby Pawtucket!

We'll miss Rachel dearly, but we also know that she will be only a short distance away, and since she is continuing in her role as director of the RI Fiddle Project, she will continue to have a significant local presence. Here is an excerpt from a recent letter that she shared with supporters of the Fiddle Project:

I am writing to you with much pride about what has been accomplished this year at the Rhode Island Fiddle Project. This year:

-15 students and their families have benefited from weekly lessons, a weekly group fiddle and dance class, and monthly special events with two Fiddlers-in-Residence.

-We have traveled as a group to hear a performance by the Carolina Chocolate Drops at Bryant University, and met the performers back stage!

-World-renowned musicians Jay Ungar and Molly Mason visited Woodlawn Community Center to offer our students a workshop, culminating with a performance for parents.

-Students celebrated Cajun Mardi Gras, and traveled to perform at a Cajun dance.

-The program received support from the Carter Family Charitable Trust, the Grey Fox Educational Fund, D’Addario Foundation, the RI State Council on the Arts, the Rotary Club of Pawtucket and the City of Pawtucket.

-Fiddlers-in-Residence performed at Pawtucket’s Mayoral Inauguration party, at house concerts around the state, at Common Fence Music’s Fiddlers & Fisherman concert, and at Pawtucket’s urban revitalization yoga studio.

You can see photos from their performances at our year-end Fiddling Celebration here. 

There are some big changes coming up. I will be beginning my studies towards a Master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation at the  New England Conservatory this fall. I know that both my performance and teaching abilities will be strengthened and I will have much more to offer when it is complete.

In the meantime, the program is incredibly fortunate to have Michelle Kaminsky continuing as Fiddler-in-Residence and taking on weekly teaching of our students, with the assistance of some generous volunteers.

I will continue in my role as director and will continue to design and organize our monthly special events, including community dances, workshops and student performances. I am confident that the program has what is needed to continue to be a place for students to strengthen their connections with their peers and musical mentors, and to develop leadership skills through their immersion in fiddling traditions and community dance.

We'll miss you Rachel!

[Editor's note: If you are curious to hear some of Rachel's fiddling tunes, check her out on CDbaby, where you can also buy her recent album for $10.]

Former CMW fellow Adrienne Taylor ('08-'10) spent time in Venezuela this past spring as a member of the Abreu Fellows program at the New England Conservatory. Her trip to Venezuela was to experience firsthand the incredible 35-year-old program know as El Sistema that you are likely already familiar with if you have been following this blog or if you are passionate about arts education.

The other students are surprisingly patient while they wait for their turn to play. The sections that are asked to play alone are not timid at all while the others listen. Everyone plays with a strong, confident tone. Once all of the students have successfully played their parts for the conductor, they join together at the end of the rehearsal to play the piece as a group. They are playing well, but the conductor doesn't let them be satisfied with their work. Now, she says, you have to fight. Between now and Saturday's concert you have to fight to play this the best that you can. This requires practice. Practice is very important. She points to the teaching assistants in the room and says, when they were your age, they were already playing El Danzon. They were playing El Danzon without mistakes. What would happen if we went to play in another city, or in another school, or in a hotel somewhere and we played with mistakes? What would people think? We have to fight to play our best.

Read more of Adrienne's account of her experience in her own words. Enjoy!

(Providence, RI – July 17, 2011) Thousands of artists will be employed in the coming year in projects supported by grants from the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, according to an announcement released by the State Arts Council today about its first round of grant awards for the 11-12 season. These grants, funded through an appropriation from the Rhode Island General Assembly and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, support projects by individual artists, arts organizations, schools and educational organizations in communities throughout the state.

Photos by Heath (while Jori is on vacation)

A sampling of staff adventures planned for this summer…

Carole will be driving 2,351 miles to her home of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She will then be traveling 450 miles to teach at a Suzuki Camp in Brandon, Manitoba. After that, she will travel 1132 miles to the other side of the continent to play chamber music with her friends. At the end of the summer, she will cross the country one more time and head to St. John's, Newfoundland. And hence begins her next adventure: grad school at Memorial University.

Sara will be spending her summer in Portland, Oregon and Bozeman, Montana. Projects include teaching her daughter to ride a two-wheeler, reuniting with family, and learning the Bach Chaconne.

Laura will begin her new job as Executive Director of the Community String Project in Bristol, RI. Contact her if you'd like to be involved in this flourishing program! (laura@cetilia.org) She'll also be teaching at CMW Summer Camp and will be leading a CMW Media Lab summer session with Jori. A trip to Los Angeles will also be made to visit family and friends (and to eat some fish tacos.

Ariana is kicking off the summer with a 24-hour relay from Symphony Hall to Tanglewood, then visiting Portland for a week, and then spending the bulk of the summer – 6 weeks – teaching at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, where she will split her time between lessons, chamber music coaching, and trying to spend as much time outside in the Berkshires as possible.

Jesse shared the following: "This summer, I will be working a lot on my house in anticipation of a very special guest in the Fall. I will also be visiting  that special guest and her family in Ireland in July. I plan to do a lot of swimming at the Y, reading some good books, visiting family and friends, and of course, hanging out with the cats. Musically, I'll be practicing for some concerts in the fall, teaching up at Apple Hill, and listening to a lot of vinyl. Have a great summer everyone!"

Rachel will be working with Laura, along with CMW alums and volunteers, to run this year's CMW Summer Camp in Wickford in July. She'll also be preparing to start a graduate program in New England Conservatory's Contemporary Improvisation department in the fall and playing fiddle at former fellow Arlyn Valencia's wedding!

Heath will be staying home for the most part, swimming as often as possible, preparing for the new CMW season, learning the intracies of iMovie, and spending plenty of middle-of-the-night quality time with recently arrived Anika.

Enjoy your summer!

We're very sad to say goodbye to Aaron McFarlane and Carole Bestvater, our two most recent Fellowship Program graduates.

Aaron has accepted a position as Centre Director for Sistema New Brunswick (Canada). In its first year, the Saint John Centre will offer 60 children free after-school music education, 5 days a week, 3 hours per day. About his two years at CMW, Aaron writes:

I appreciate "having had the opportunity to be at CMW for two years. Itʼs pushed me to think hard about my role as a musician, and I feel like my work going forward will bear evidence of that thinking."

"The skills I acquired will become more evident after Iʼve left, I think, but Iʼve gained a lot in terms of conceptualizing what needs to be done for big projects. I feel much more like I can start with an endpoint and plot backwards from my desired outcome, and for someone interested in starting [an organization], that feels powerful."

"I thought relationships would develop between the core staff and the fellows, but I had never really considered the strength of the relationships I developed with the other fellows. It was a thrill being surrounded by such incredible, like-minded people."

"I was touched by the fact that several of my students in their end-of-year self-evaluations listed me not only as their teacher, but also their friend."

In the fall, Carole will begin a Masters program at Memorial University's School of Music in Newfoundland. About her CMW experience, she writes:

"I came here looking for a network of people who would inspire me and help me develop my thoughts and ideas. I came here ready to absorb everything I could, and I think I did just that."

"My conversations with Sebastian during our shadowing sessions were largely influential. I pondered, thought, and read recommended books. For me, the Experiential learning environment is most effective. Being around all the staff members and having space to ask questions, think deeply, and absorb information over the past two years has proven to be a very effective method for me."

"Shadowing Heath was very important in [learning the logistical aspects of CMW]—there were aspects of his job I had never even imagined before, and now I can think clearly about details I could never even fathom. I am thinking specifically along the lines of donor relationships, event coordinating, and the visual presentation of an organization. I have tools that I didn’t have before, and that gives me the confidence to move forward and start developing my ideas into a reality."

—

We all wish Aaron and Carole the very best in their next endeavors, and no one should be surprised to see them turning up in Providence from time to time… we certainly hope they'll be back to visit soon!

Sara and Jesse have joined Sebastian (14), Minna (12) and Heath (11) in CMW's 10-year club. This slide show, screened at the Fellowship Program graduation/year-end party earlier this month, is a nostalgic look back at Sara and Jesse's first decade. Enjoy!

More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account.

Tribute to Aaron and Carole, with original lyrics by J. Holstein. Download a copy here.