March 2022

A NOTE FROM JANE

The Magic of Music

Adam Grant’s recent TED talk about finding meaning and joy, even in the most challenging times, resonated deeply with me and I believe our ELM community provides many of these sustaining features. 

 In this talk, he described three conditions that he believes contribute to well-being: mastery, mindfulness and mattering. 

 To learn to play an instrument and participate in an ensemble takes extraordinary attention to detail. Progress takes place, quite literally, note by note. There are no shortcuts. Yet the sense of mastery that our students experience, and the pride in their accomplishments – from plucking a few notes on their violins or cellos, to using their bows to play "Ode to Joy" – is indescribable.

 As one young boy said, “When I played a song from the beginning to the end for the first time, I was so proud.”

 In order to achieve mastery, mindfulness is absolutely crucial. It is impossible to play in an ensemble effectively without being fully present and mindful. Our students' love for music and their instruments provides a calm space for them, especially important during these difficult times.

“My violin is my safe place,” wrote one girl in a letter to me.

And mattering. We recognize and appreciate how much ELM matters to our families and how much pride they take in their children’s musical accomplishments. The rhythm of their days, weeks, and years revolves around ELM. For many, ELM is a family endeavor in which many siblings and cousins participate. A note from an ELM mom says:

“To have a son who plays an instrument is the best gift I could ask for.”

 Mastery, mindfulness, and mattering.

And of course, the most wonderful M word of all: Music.

Thank you for being such a valued member of our ELM community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us.

Warmly,

Jane Kramer, PhD, Founder and Executive Director

 P.S. You can watch Adam Grant’s Ted talk about mastery, mindfulness, and mattering here.

STUDENT CONNECTIONS

Nicolas Lau: El Sistema World Youth Ambassador

Photo Credit: Sherry LaVars/Marin Independent Journal 

We are proud to share that ELM’s very own Nicolas Lau was selected as one of 16 World Youth Ambassadors from our international organization, the World Ensemble of El Sistema. Nicolas is one of four students from the United States who were selected to partake in the 2022 Youth Ambassador Program, where he will be joined by students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Colombia, France, Myanmar, New Zealand, and Uganda.

During his time as an ambassador, Nicolas will write about his experiences for the program’s newsletter and website, in addition to working with his fellow youth ambassadors on cultural and music-based collaborative projects. The Ambassador Ensemble program is designed to help young musicians strengthen their leadership and communication skills, helping them to continue acting as positive forces of change in their communities. You can read Nicolas's latest ambassador update here.

ELM IN THE COMMUNITY

Marin's Youth Volunteer of the Year, Aidan Williams

Meet Aidan Williams, a Heart of Marin Youth Volunteer of the Year and local changemaker. A high school student at Mill Valley’s Tamalpais High School, Aidan is the founder of Crescendo Connect, a Marin nonprofit that connects families with free and low-cost musical instruments and lessons. While Aidan’s idea for Crescendo Connect initially started as a school project, this endeavor blossomed into an opportunity for him to establish his own nonprofit organization. By accepting donations in the form of unused and spare instruments, his organization gives these instruments new life by providing them for Marin students who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

 As a cellist and pianist himself, Aidan knows the power music has to build and strengthen community. He notes, "Music is a language that moves beyond barriers and learning music has helped me in so many ways. It’s magical, and I really wanted to share that opportunity with others.” Aidan's philanthropic efforts are creating opportunities for so many students right here in Marin and ELM is incredibly grateful for the work he is doing. To learn more about his organization, visit Crescendo Connect.

ELM SPOTLIGHTS

Reflections on Resilience

Our spotlight this issue features the award-winning composer, Giancarlo Castro D'Addona, and his wife, accomplished violinist, Marian Gutierrez-Curiel. These two artists have been working with our elmCATS on a months-long project, Reflections on Resilience, to compose an original piece of music for ELM. Giancarlo and Marian sat down to talk with our Spotlight host, Kate Fitzsimmons, about the power of making music as an act of resilience.

ELM IS GROWING

Meet the three newest members of our Board of Directors

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join our Legacy Circle

Remembering ELM in your estate planning is an easy way to make a lasting contribution that will help ensure our sustainability.   Learn more

Major Support Provided By

Additional Support Provided By

Maestro Circle
Gifts of $50,000+

Buck Family Fund of MCF
Fullerton Family Foundation
Solli Ball Family Fund
Tiana Wimmer & Warren Leiden

Virtuoso’s Circle
Gifts of $25,000+

Bob M Brown Fund
California Arts Council
California Relief Program
Carnegie Hall Play USA
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
JAMBAR Fund
Kimball Foundation
Margot Fraser Fund
Sarane T. Bowen Charitable Fund

Conductor’s Circle
Gifts of $10,000+

Bob M Brown Fund
George Family Foundation
Susan & Dennis Gilardi
Grace Hughes
Kurland Family Foundation
Lori Lerner & Terry Berkemeier
Marin County Community Service Fund
Orchard House Foundation
Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund
Jane Robinson
Sara Sackner & Andy Behar
Scorpio Rising Fund
Sklar Family Fund

Concert Masters
Gifts of $5,000+

Anonymous Donor
Deanne Stone
Drs. Dennie P and Thomas Wolf
Fred Gellert Family Foundation
Giving Marin Community Partnership
Gloria and Saul Feldman
Hank Barner Fund
Jamie Waters & Gordon Danielson
Kramer-Feldman Family Charitable Fund
Meehan Foundation Lynn Olson
Monica Bonny & Michael Perigo
The Lewis Prize for Music
The Mary Hynes and Marc Tessier-Lavigne Gifting Fund
The Patty and Jack Wright Foundation

Section Leaders
Gifts of $1,000+

Debbie Ablin
Amy and Seth Barad Family Fund
Lesley Anderson MD and Paula Zand
Awesome Foundation
Barbara Axelband
Bank of Marin
Sylvia Boorstein
Terry Bright & Tom Wilson
Andrea Bruno & Jonathan Epstein
D'Addario Foundation
Marsha & Tom Dugan
Eli Noyes and Augusta Talbot Charitable Fund
Joan Emery & Eddy Rubin
Liz Etkin-Kramer & Peter Kramer
Robert Goldman
Ruth Greenfield
Griffiths Family Charitable Fund
Hagar Family Foundation
Hein Family Fund for Marin
JAK Fund
Mike & Saori Kappus
Elaine Kramer
Langston Family Fund
Little Village Foundation
Marin Charitable
Jennie Martzloff & Gary Ruff
Ann & Andrew Mathieson
Laura & Barry Miller
Northern Trust
Purple Lady/Barbara J. Meislin Fund
Renee & David Cullinan Fund
Richardson Family Fund
Rotary Club of San Rafael Harbor
Lynn Roy
Nancy Schlegel
Sueli Shaw
Bob and Betsy Stafford
Monica & Scot Stafford
The Klebanoff-Cohen Fund
The Tierney Bindelglass Charitable Fund
Michele & Kwei Ü
Laura vanMunching
David & Suzanne Warner
Nicole Whiting
Whole Foods Market Community Giving Program

Gifts In Kind

Janice Chow & Allen Ng
Crescendo Connect
Dawse Properties
Tim Porter Photography
Mary Fleming & George Khouri
Mary Haber
Richard Holway
Lucile Irwin
Merel Kennedy
Kenn Kovitz
Marla Krause
Make It Better Foundation
Julie Mellon
Miriam Perkoff & Michael Grossman
Jeff Ross
Sheri Tye
Lisa William Zigmund

Community Partners 

Agricultural Institute of Marin
Branson High School
Canal Alliance
Delicious! Catering
El Sistema USA
Marin Promise
Multicultural Center of Marin
One Found Sound
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
San Rafael City Schools 

And Donors Like You!

ELM provides youth with an immersive music education that empowers them to pursue their dreams and access resources they need to succeed in life.