The mission of the Festival's Dream Big Private Lesson Program is to support students who've made the choice to be a serious musician by providing them with high-quality private lessons, which give them the professional attention they need to advance their skills with their instrument or voice.
In today's newsletter, you'll read the inspiring, first-hand accounts of Dream Big students who worked hard to prepare for and successfully complete demanding auditions for entrance into exceptional performing ensembles. The path of a serious public-school music student should always include performing alongside other high-achieving musicians.
Also in this newsletter: a bonus! We're sharing wonderful images of our young violin and guitar students who performed for a supportive crowd of family, friends, and program alumni at Sweeney Elementary School this past December. Our elementary students often go on to join Ortiz Middle School's orchestra or guitar programs as well as Dream Big, which allows them to continue their musical instruction and reach ever-higher levels of mastery on their instrument.
And finally, we want to thank you---friends, colleagues, collaborators, donors, and sponsors---for all you do to open the doors of opportunity for---and enrich and enliven the experiences of---these deserving, hopeful, and very capable young musicians.
For Kids and Music,
Leanne DeVane
Director of Education & Outreach
Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival
Guitar and Strings in Our Schools
We recently wrapped up our winter student concerts, and they were a great success! Congratulations to everyone from our Guitar in Our Schools and Strings in Our Schools programs who performed! These photos show just some of the proud moments at a December 13 concert at Sweeney Elementary School, where guitar and violin students played Jingle Bells, Firoliralera, Ode to Joy, and Cielito Lindo for their families and other supporters, including some of our former music students!
Teachers Complete Music in Our Schools Curriculum Training From January 30 to February 2, teachers whose students are attending our upcoming Music in Our Schools chamber music concerts took our curriculum-training workshops, which demonstrated fun and engaging ways of teaching music by Georg Phillip Telemann, Franz Josef Haydn, and Rafael Méndez to students in pre-K and grades K–6.
Below are two excerpts from those workshops that focus on the first movement of Telemann’s Trumpet Concerto in D Major; the concerto will be performed as an arrangement in the upcoming concerts, which will be held in schools in Santa Fe, Taos, Los Alamos, and Pecos March 3–16. Students in pre-K, kindergarten, and grade 1 perform a stretching sequence that reflects the sounds and moods of the music, while students in grades 2–6 follow iconic notation that imitates the melodic direction of the trumpet solo.
We'd like to offer a special thanks to our Music in Our Schools collaborator Janine Sammeth, who writes the program’s curriculum, creates its video experiences, and presents its workshops.
Telemann Movement I, Pre-K–Grade 1 Movement Video
Telemann Movement I, Grades 2–6 Melody Video
Six Dream Big Students Perform in Prestigious Groups
Music is a powerful tool that can be harnessed for long-lasting benefits. Below, we share moving, authentic accounts from six students who received our Dream Big Audition Scholarships. Three of these students performed in New Mexico Music Educators Association All-State ensembles in January at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque, and three of them are currently participating in Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association performing groups, which give multiple performances throughout the school year.
New Mexico Music Educators Association All-State Performing Groups
Brian Avalos, 10th Grade Oboe Student, Capital High School Brian with Capital High band director Ricardo Hernandez
"As for my experience, I was a mess on the first day, though I think that applied to everyone. The next three days were exhausting, but it was nice having the opportunity to play music to the extent that we did. Time after practice was fun, since I was able to spend it with my friends, including one I met during All-State."
Kimberly Duarte, 11th Grade Bassoon Student, Capital High School Kimberly with Capital High band director Ricardo Hernandez
"My experience at All-State came with a mix of emotions, but I was mostly excited. On the first day of the All-State event, it was a bit rough because participating in All-State was a brand-new experience for me. But meeting other students and getting to know them was helpful. The next few days were filled with a lot of fun and hard work. I got to hear different groups perform, and I heard the different styles. It was a great experience that I would not have gotten elsewhere.
Our keynote speaker told us his story of why he plays music. He gave five different reasons for playing that sounded random at first. But after he told the entire story, I was shocked that it had so much more meaning than I'd assumed. The reasons were inspiring!
I also got to meet our All-State conductor, Dr. Michael Alexander, and he was very kind to us. I got a chance to talk to him and ask questions. In between rehearsals, Dr. Alexander told us stories about his career. It was so interesting to hear how much he enjoys music and why he does it. There were times when I felt shy to play my bassoon. The vice president of orchestra asked if I would be more comfortable if I got a private lesson with a bassoon teacher at the conference. After the lesson, I felt a lot more self-assured. Dr. Alexander suggested I play a bit louder, and he told me that I was good. That made me feel more confident.
On the day of the concert, I was excited to perform. When the concert began, I was amazed to see a lot of people in the audience! I started playing and I had so much fun. I enjoyed every moment. I was also able to hear other groups perform. We all worked hard to put on a show in a few days, and it was amazing to hear everyone perform.
My All-State experience made me reflect on why I do music and why I enjoy performing it. It doesn't matter what background someone comes from; we can all enjoy music in a way that can unite us—not only as performers but as listeners, an audience. To me, that is powerful. It was an amazing experience I will cherish forever."
Jesus Orona, 12th Grade Voice Student, Capital High School Jesus with Capital High choir director Alicia Dickinson
"I've never experienced anything like All-State. It was my first time. My Dream Big private teacher, Marilyn Barnes, texted me to come see her and gave me the good news. She said, 'Guess what?' Then she told me that I made All-State. She was so happy for me, and I was, too!
At first, I was nervous because I am generally a shy person. On the first day of All-State, I felt especially shy, and it was hard for me to open up. But on the second day, I realized that we're not there to be judged by others but to do what we love. We may not be perfect, but we're there because there is something special about our voice. As I sang next to other students, I gained more confidence. We all started to sing louder.
I've sung in public with our choir class at the local DeVargas mall to a very engaging audience, but All-State was different. Singing to a small audience versus singing to a huge audience in itself is different and mind-blowing. I was very happy and proud because I felt that our All-State performance was beautiful and strong. We worked very hard for it, together.
I plan to attend the University of New Mexico to pursue a degree in music to continue my longtime dream of composing and singing my own music. My participation in All-State has helped me get closer to my dream!
As for preparing for the audition, Marilyn worked with me on pronouncing words correctly. I had to sing a piece in German for my audition along with a piece from Solo Fest [a regional event sponsored by North Central New Mexico Educators' Association]. I highly recommend that students who are planning to audition for Solo Fest or All-State take one-on-one lessons like the ones in the Dream Big Private Lesson Program. It's a must!
My younger brother, who is now a freshman at Capital High School, will join the Capital High choir program in the coming year. I know that what I do now to attend college in order to pursue my dreams and pave my way for the future will set a good example for my little brother, who means the world to me."
Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association Performing Groups
Hadleigh LaMay, 7th Grade Violin Student, Ortiz Middle School
"My experience with the Santa Fe Youth Symphony's Intermezzo String Orchestra has been significant because it's helped me get out of my comfort zone. It's also a great way to spend my spare time, unwind, and improve my skills. Youth Symphony has helped me do things I normally hate doing, be more involved with things, and improve my self-esteem. Dream Big private lessons with my amazing instructor, Haley Lovelace, have helped me prepare for concerts and be a part of the Intermezzo String Orchestra. When I have one-on-one with Ms. Haley for an hour once a week, it helps me better understand my music. She plays with me during our lessons, and I find parts to work on to help me prepare (to sound better!) for concerts and my string orchestra class. Ms. Haley is very patient with me and does a wonderful job helping me work through sticky or weird parts. I appreciate everything Dream Big, the Santa Fe Youth Symphony, Enterprise Bank & Trust, and Ms. Haley have done to help me pursue my passion."
Fernanda Ruiz, 8th Grade Viola Student, Ortiz Middle School Fernanda with her mother, Susana Lopez Cordova
"It was my first time participating in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony’s holiday concert with the Intermezzo String Orchestra last winter. I’d never done anything like that before in my life—performing in a concert for a huge audience! It was an amazing experience. My mom felt very happy and was proud of me! My Dream Big private instructor, Ms. Haley, helped me prepare for the concert. She practiced every song with me and helped me remember my notes. She also played some of the parts I didn't know how to play so I could hear them first. She really helped me prepare for the concert."
Cindy Caraveo, 11th Grade Violin Student, Capital High School
"What I enjoy about being in the Santa Fe Youth Symphony's Youth Philharmonic is how I'm able to learn new music and meet new students with the same passion for music as me. I've been able to really connect and advance a lot more in the way I play. The Dream Big lessons have also been great. They're the reason I'm in the Youth Philharmonic in the first place. Ms. Haley, my private teacher, is the one who encouraged me to audition and try something new that would help me. I'm also very grateful for my orchestra teacher, Mr. Zachary McGee, for placing me in the Dream Big program. I owe it all to my teachers for taking me where I am today."
~We're grateful for our partnerships with Santa Fe Public Schools' Music Department, the New Mexico Music Educators Association, and the Santa Fe Youth Symphony Association for providing these important opportunities for Dream Big students.~
~Dream Big Audition Scholarships are exclusively sponsored by Enterprise Bank & Trust.~
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