By JUNE STODDARD Special to the Daily Press
One year ago, John Redfield, a cello teacher at Lincoln Middle School, spoke with the Maestro Foundation, founded by Aaron Mendelsohn in 1984, and discussed an idea that has now become a reality affecting 30 Santa Monica families profoundly. The foundation decided to fund “Elemental Strings,” an audition-only string orchestra of 30 elementary students in the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District with the goal of encouraging them to continue and bring up the level of incoming middle school musicians.
For the past school year, the orchestra has been based at Lincoln Middle School every Friday afternoon from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., conducted by Peter Park with Redfield, Josephine Liu, Sharon Jackson and Kirsten Bersch coaching the students on pieces for their two orchestra concerts at Lincoln and one concert of four chamber groups held at Mendelsohn’s house on June 11.
The event ended with trophies given to three students who practiced an average of one hour a day for the past year, as well as certificates of participation with seals of excellence to each student musician. The performance was followed by a barbecue and pool party for all.
“This program has the potential of rewriting the map of music education in Santa Monica and music appreciation,” Redfield said.
Many of the parents were deeply moved, though the children were thinking more about swimming.
The chamber program included works by Corelli, Handel, Dvorak, Purcell and Mozart. Each group played without a conductor and wowed the audience with their confident performance.
“It is my simple belief that to provide a musical experience and outlet requires patience and persistence from parents, teachers and students,” Park said at the event. “If you’re right-handed or left-handed, the other hand loses its abilities, but when a baby is born both right and left are the same. Talent can be developed when given exposure and opportunity.”
The Maestro Foundation has funded many ground-breaking programs in its 21 years of existence, though it has never funded a program for fledgling musicians before. Other programs they fund: Lending program of 80 quality string instruments to serious college musicians; September to May chamber recital series with world renowned musicians; yearly $10,000 scholarship program to a deserving senior at USC to help his or her career develop; music program at Washington Prep in Watts that has been highlighted on Oprah for the majority of its students attending college; the new Maestro Chamber Music Academy for college age students, featuring coaching by professional musicians.
“I hope Elemental Strings will grow into being one of our strongest programs. The fact that this is a year-long cohesive group benefits and inspires everyone,” said Julia Cser, executive director of the foundation. “If the students get interested enough they will pursue private lessons.
“I see the motivation in the faces of every child this year.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 18, 2005. Read the original PDF.