RISD Museum concert
More photos by Jori in CMW's Flickr account. Fellows Quartet at D’Abate ElementaryChalk board photoThis photo is of the chalk board in Sebastian's office. Providing a comprehensive diagram of CMW's major activities, it appears on our new program evaluation website, completed earlier this month. Notice how "relationship building" seems to encircle all aspects of our programming… Concert in the country
Kirby’s letter
Hello, my name is Kirby and I have Many of you have heard statistics of how amazing CMW is, but Many things have highlighted my time at CMW: At 15 I joined Phase III and became part of a string quartet with my 3 awesome friends Josh, Luis, and Itza. Together we learned how important it is to work with each other and pull your own weight. We met weekly for an hour rehearsal with our coaches, including Chloe, Jesse, and Jason. We also performed concerts around the city, which included playing at the Mayor's house last summer.
Being part of Phase III has made me into a more responsible person. It has also helped me find my passion. This happened when I met Jori, CMW's Media Lab Director. These past 2 years I have worked closely with her, learning how to conduct interviews, use iMovie, and make documentary films. Jori has become my teacher, my mentor, my partner, and most importantly, my friend. Next year, at college, I plan to minor in film, and I have even started working on my own projects. This month I'm graduating and will be attending Smith College in the fall. I cannot say what I will miss the most, but maybe it's the many relationships I've formed. Maybe it's my weekly cello lessons with Adrienne, my afternoon chats with Liz at the office, mentoring Malachy over 2 years, or my sense of belonging to a community bigger than myself.
What comforts me is that CMW will continue and go on to change lives in the way that it has changed mine. I know CMW will be there tomorrow, next year, and hopefully 20 years from now. CMW will be there because of the generosity of all of CMW's donors. We need to raise $20,000 by June 30th to balance our budget. Will you help us? Thank you for all of your support! -Kirby Vasquez P.S. If you want to know more about my experience at CMW, you can watch some of my videos on CMW's website. —— View Kirby's original letter here (page 1) and here (page 2). John Hope dinner & concert (Part II)CMW's free dinner and concert at the John Hope Settlement House on May 14.
John Hope dinner & concert (Part I)CMW's free dinner and concert at the John Hope Settlement House on May 14.
Adrienne remembers…One of the most memorable moments from my first year in CMW's Fellowship Program was at the spaghetti dinner and concert at the West End Community Center. I remember watching the Phase III students and the Providence String Quartet playing The Kompa Variations together. In the room that night were the Orion String Quartet, the Providence String Quartet, the Fellows, CMW students, and many families and friends of CMW.
When the Phase III students performed side-by-side with the Providence String Quartet, it was a special moment and I think everyone felt it—not just the people playing but everyone who was there could see that there was a special bond between the teachers and the students and their families, and that this community was being brought together by the power of music.
During the course of my two years here, I have had the great privilege of becoming a part of this community. CMW has shown me how music can play an important role in bringing people together. Looking out at all of the families and students and teachers at the final Performance Party, I realized how attached I have become in these two years to all of the people at CMW that have become such a huge part of my life. Thank you all for this making me a part of the CMW family! -Adrienne Taylor, Fellow (08-10) Jason remembers…The end of my CMW fellowship has been sneaking up for months. It started around April when my students began to realize that I wouldn’t be their teacher next year – around the same time I realized I‘d have to let each of them go. Then came the “lasts.” the last time I performed with the Fellows Quartet; the last Phase II dinner provided by the incredible Linda Kane; the last Performance Party and potluck; the last picnic. Soon to come: the last staff meeting; the last performance as a member of the CMW Players (at least for now); and finally, the last time we set the alarm and frantically run out of the office.
There are too many incredible memories to name them all. Some of my
There is also a stream of moments (Paul helping a young student double knot his laces at the Phase I retreat, Josh helping a nervous violist play through Jingle Bells, etc.) that were beautifully summed up by a friend who participated in the Institute for Musicianship and Public Service (IMPS). After witnessing our students interact over the weekend, he said “I’m amazed by how nice these kids are… even the teenage boys! This is rare!” He was right, this is rare. I’m just so thankful to have been a part of it. -Jason Amos, Fellow (08-10) [Editor: After CMW's week-long summer camp in July, Jason will be moving to Boston where, among other activities that he has been lining up, he will join the Boston Public Quartet and their residency at the Chittick School in Mattapan.] Sara’s cello class
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