MAY 2021

A NOTE FROM JANE

Over the past year, sequestered at home during the pandemic, ELM embarked on our most ambitious project ever. 

With a generous seed grant from Carnegie Hall’s PlayUSA program, we inaugurated our first elmCATS cohort. Our elmCATS (which stands for Community of Artists, Teachers, and Scholars) program was designed for students who show extraordinary dedication to their music practice, commitment to their peers, and desire to improve the community through their musicianship. 

 elmCATS will deepen their musical experience through private lessons, chamber music, upgraded instruments, and mentoring/community service experiences. They will have opportunities to take on leadership roles at ELM. 

As a result, elmCATS will be competitive for regional, state, and national music opportunities – such as music camps like Interlochen and the National Take a Stand music festival. 

 elmCATS were nominated by their primary music teachers, each of whom was offered 4 nomination slots. To be eligible for nomination, students had to have played their instrument for at least 2 years. There are currently 24 elmCATS ranging in age from 9-17.

We are thrilled that the program has launched and thrived during the pandemic. Our first elmCATS collaboration was with One Found Sound, a San Francisco based chamber orchestra one of whose members is Anna Marie Arai-Lopez, our lead violin teacher. For this collaboration, members of One Found Sound worked with our students on Libertango, a well-known piece by Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla. They video-recorded it in our Parking Lot Conservatory (turned into a Parking Lot Concert Hall for the occasion). 

It will be included in our upcoming June 6th concert. Here is a sneak preview.

This newsletter features an exclusive interview with Leslye DeLeon, an elmCATS clarinet player. Leslye has been in ELM since she was 7 years old and is now a junior in high school. For her exceptional commitment to youth mental health and the mindfulness-oriented curriculum that she designed, Leslye was awarded as a Marin Youth Volunteer of the Year in 2021.

Scroll down to watch the interview with Leslye.

Thank you for being a part of our ELM community.

Warmly,

Jane Kramer, PhD, Founder and Executive Director

P.S. I look forward to seeing you at what I hope will be our final zoom concert on June 6th at 3PM.

ELM IN THE NEWS

ELM Didn’t Miss A Beat

ELM was featured in this month's edition of Marin Magazine. It tells our story of being nimble and thoughtful in our efforts to support our community during the pandemic. 

With the onset of the pandemic and the closure of ELM’s rehearsal space, we shifted programming online and have successfully delivered three semesters virtually. Each semester culminates in a concert that brings ELM families, teachers and the greater community together to experience the joy of music.

Our next concert is June 6, 2021 at 3pm PT. 

Sounds of Community: A young woman's journey to NYU

Last month, I introduced our tutor coordinator (and music education major at NYU), Viviana Garcia to WithItGirl, a platform that amplifies the voices, visions, and ideas of women in surf, skate, and art cultures founded by ELM advisor, Marialidia Marcotulli. I was amazed to learn that Vivi plays 4 instruments (guitar, ukulele, viola and cello) in addition to the violin which she has played since 4th grade. Oh and she sings! What a musical inspiration.

ELM IN THE COMMUNITY

Mill Valley Market

A local grocer, Mill Valley Market has a giving program – Shop & GIve. When you mention ELM at checkout, MVM will donate 2% of your entire purchase. No cards, no phone numbers! Learn more

Nickels for Nonprofits

ELM has partnered with another local grocer, United Markets who is generously providing fresh fruit for our Saturday classes which are starting to resume both indoors and out. This new relationship resulted in ELM being featured as May’s Nickel Jar program providing exposure throughout the community. Each time shoppers use their reusable shopping bags, United donates $.05 to ELM.

United also promoted ELM on social media and their website where they featured our story. Visit our Facebook page

Don't forget to bring your bags this weekend to United! You'll find one in San Rafael and San Anselmo.

Amazon Smile

Another great way to do some community fundraising is to sign-up for Amazon Smile and select ELM as your charity of choice to earn half a percent of your purchases. Shop Amazon

ELM SPOTLIGHTS

Leslye De Leon Talks elmCATS

ELM is committed to increasing access to high quality music experiences for our students who show commitment, drive, and talent. elmCATS provides a pathway for dedicated, motivated students to deepen ELM's impact.

Our spotlight this issue is one of those talented students, Leslye De Leon an elmCATS clarinet player and community activist. Leslye talks to ELM Spotlight host, Kate Fitzsimmons about what motivates her about music and what she hopes to gain from elmCATS. Learn more about elmCATS

How You Can Support elmCATS

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.