September 2025
Not on our mailing list? Sign up to get updates and news on ELM programs and events. Subscribe today.
A NOTE FROM JANE
As we settle into our new home at 2960 Kerner Boulevard, the phrase Welcome Home has never felt more meaningful or joyful.
Having a home in which to welcome our community is a dream come true. Just a few weeks ago on our moving day, 50 families spent a full day lovingly carrying the contents of our rental space across the street to begin our new chapter. Over multiple trips across the street, each of us carried what we could. Dads carried the refrigerator and heavy boxes and children as young as 5 years old carried flutes. At noon we stopped work and joined together for tacos, ice cream and music. It was a day to remember and the start of a new chapter in ELM’s life.
Already, our new home is a vibrant space that allows us to expand programs and deepen our impact in the Canal community. With this move comes the launch of our capital campaign to ensure that our building is designed to support our mission and can support our growing family of musicians with ideal space in which to practice, learn, and perform.
We will have lots of exciting news to share about the capital campaign which will include renovating our current space to convert it into a real music school - and building a rehearsal and performance space large enough to host our three orchestras, with rooms for practicing and lessons.
This week ELM celebrates the arrival of a brand-new cohort of 30 young string players, who bring energy, curiosity, and joy to our orchestra. To support their growth, we’ve welcomed outstanding new faculty members whose expertise and passion will strengthen our community of teaching artists. See below to learn about our extraordinary new faculty, two of whom ‘grew up’ in El Sistema programs in their countries of birth - El Salvador and Venezuela.
We are honored to share that ELM has been recognized with the Small Business of the Year Award by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Marin as part of Bank of Marin’s annual Spirit of Marin Awards. ELM is also honored to be one of five organizations nominated for the 100Marin Awards, Marin County’s premier giving circle.
Thank you for being part of this exciting journey. Please feel free to contact me with thoughts, questions, and ideas.
Warmly,
Jane
Jane Kramer, PhD, Founder and Executive Director
P.S. Please contact me for a tour and to learn how you can support ELM.
FACULTY NEWS
ELM is thrilled to welcome our new professional teaching artists. Please see our website for full bios on:
Fabiola Marinero - Teaching Artist, Violin
Octavio Mujica - Teaching Artist, Cello
Brian Kemble - Teaching Artist, Trombone
Michael Fecskes - Teaching Artist, Cello
STUDENT NEWS
ELM Summer Experiences
Through the generosity of ELM partners many of our students participated in programs via scholarship this summer. Some highlights include:
One ELM violinist toured Europe with the Marin Youth Symphony
An ELM student traveled to Baltimore as a National Youth Ambassador to El Sistema
Four students attended Deer Hill Expeditions’ 3-week wilderness program in Colorado, hiking, canoeing and exploring the wilderness
Eighteen students attended the Call of the Sea sailing week-long sailing camp in which students sailed on the bay in a tall ship while learning maritime skills
One high school student attended UCSF’s PITCH Program, an immersive three-week summer program designed to inspire and empower students interested in exploring health and medical sciences
North Bridge Academy supported an ELM student's participation in its 3-week program language support and reading acquisition program
MOVING DAY!
On Saturday, August 9th, ELM students, families, and friends came together to move into our new home. It was a day full of fun, laughter, and hard work. We loved seeing our special community unite and celebrate this exciting new chapter!
GRANT NEWS & COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
ELM is thrilled to announce that we have received multiple-year funding from The Lindskog Foundation and generous support from The Joseph & Vera Long Foundation. These grants will allow us to continue to provide musical excellence, academic enrichment, and community for our ELM students. If you know of funding opportunities that may be a good match for ELM, please let us know by emailing development@elmprogram.org.
ELM has also been fortunate to benefit from community fundraisers hosted by two local organizations:
United Markets and Helmut’s Marine Service. Both based in San Rafael, these generous partners have recently organized events to support ELM’s programs and students, helping raise awareness and resources to further our mission. And a special thanks to Tamalpais Paint & Color, who generously donated all of the paint to make our new home move-in ready!
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES & EVENTS
You’re Invited! Welcome Home: ELM’s Homecoming & Family Fiesta
Locals, please join us on Saturday, October 25th as we open the doors to the new ELM Center for Music & Culture! From 11AM - 12:30PM we invite you to take a behind-the-scenes look at how the magic happens. Come watch our students in rehearsal and tour the space. Beginning at 12:30PM we will celebrate with live music, games, food, and fun for the whole family. We can’t wait to welcome you home to ELM.
Save the Date: ELM’s Winter Concerts will be held on Sunday, December 14th at Terra Linda High School
1:00PM Pre-Orchestra and Sinfonía
4:30PM Intermezzo and elmYO
FOLLOW US
ELM provides youth with an immersive music education that empowers them to pursue their dreams and access resources they need to succeed in life.