SEPTEMBER 2022

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A NOTE FROM JANE

Starting the School Year on a High Note

It is just halfway into September but ELM is already in full swing. With our fantastic new conductor, Juan Palacios (see his interview with Kate Fitzsimmons below), ELM students are starting the year strong, motivated, and inspired. They are especially excited to begin rehearsals on our original composition, “The Mix of the Culturas,” composed by Giancarlo Castro D’addona, which will premiere at our December concert at the Showcase Theater in San Rafael.  Stay tuned for more information on this exciting piece, in which our students will perform alongside guest community musicians.

This year we have many firsts. It is the first year that we are bringing our wind and brass program to our home on Kerner Boulevard – opening the stage to invite children from all over the Canal neighborhood to join the program, not only those who attend one particular school. This model has served us well with our string program, as students from seven different schools currently play string instruments at ELM. This year we also have several new teachers for trombone, violin, cello, and trumpet. ELM is indeed growing.

Another first is our in-person third grade reading buddy program. Stop by ELM any Wednesday afternoon and you will be delighted to see our third grade students and their adult reading buddies sitting at our patio café tables, huddled over books, deep into reading and discussion. We have been thrilled to follow their extraordinary reading progress, most of whom have gone from below reading proficiency to at or above proficiency in just one year. As this program continues for our elementary school students, the sky’s the limit.

Finally, we could not be more excited to announce that all six of ELM's recent alums are enrolled in a four-year university, exploring their intellectual aspirations and career goals by pursuing studies in law, engineering, nursing, music, and more!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me to learn about our Fall Open House, inquire about our upcoming capital campaign, or other ways to get involved in our vibrant, growing program.

Warmly,
Jane Kramer, PhD, Founder and Executive Director

STUDENT CONNECTIONS

Summer Chamber Music Camp

Over the summer, we partnered with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra to co-host our second annual Summer Chamber Music Camp. For two weeks, students joined together everyday at ELM to rehearse in small chamber music groups. On the last day of camp, we celebrated the students' accomplishments by enjoying a beautiful outdoor concert that featured performances from both ELM students and teaching artists from the SFCO.

Cazadero Music Camp

In addition to our chamber camp, ELM provided several students with scholarships to attend Cazadero Music Camp. Cazadero is a week-long musical education camp where our students partake in rehearsing, sleeping, and playing outdoors in the beautiful redwood forests of Sonoma. Experiences like this are truly invaluable for our students, allowing them to grow as musicians and individuals in a completely new environment.

ELM IN THE COMMUNITY

Celebrating our Volunteer: Cathy Lenz

Cathy Lenz, affectionately known as "Ms. Cathy," has been with ELM since the very beginning. From teaching the recorder at San Pedro to working with students during ELM's after-school enrichment program, she has served as a teacher and mentor for so many of our students.

In the early days of the pandemic during a particularly isolating time for young people, Cathy volunteered to read with ELM students on Zoom once a week for an hour, every week. Now, over two years later, we're overjoyed to have her back in person with us as she continues to volunteer her time reading with our students every week. We're so grateful to have volunteers, like Cathy, whose dedication to ELM has been instrumental in allowing us to expand so many different facets of our program, from music to tutoring. Thank you, Ms. Cathy!

ELM SPOTLIGHTS

Meet Juan Palacios, our New Youth Orchestra Conductor

Sometimes the stars align to create moments of special import. That's how we feel here at ELM in announcing the addition of our new conductor and teaching artist, Juan Cristóbal Palacios. 

For our most recent ELM Spotlight, Juan sat down to speak with our host, Kate Fitzsimmons about his educational experiences as a musician, what drew him to ELM, and what he envisions for his role as as our new elmYO (ELM Youth Orchestra) conductor.

ELM IS GROWING

Claudia Lang Joins ELM

We welcomed our new academic counselor, Claudia Lang, to our team this summer. She will provide academic advising support for ELM's middle and high school students as they navigate their paths to graduation.

Claudia recently received her Master of Science degree in Counseling Psychology from Dominican University, where she completed her thesis: “Perceiving the Complex Path: Encouraging and Supporting Academic Exploration for College Students.”

Claudia is also an amateur violist and performs in the College of Marin Symphony Orchestra. She will be playing viola in ELM's orchestra on Saturdays and holding office hours after rehearsals as a means to strengthen her relationship with the students whom she advises. Claudia is truly a wonderful addition to our growing Academic Support program and we're excited to have her join the team. 

PERFORMANCES & EVENTS

November 5 | 4pm ELM Performs at Day of the Dead Celebration in San Rafael

November 12 | 10am ELM Fall Open House at Venetia Valley School (space is limited)

December 11 | 4:30pm ELM Winter Concert at the Showcase Theater in the Marin Civic Center

April 8 | 4pm elmCATS Spring Recital Location TBA

April 29 | 5pm - ELM Performs in the El Sistema Seminario at Sonoma State University

June 4 | 4:30pm ELM Spring Concert at the Marin School of the Arts

Help ELM Find a New Home

Help us to purchase a building or land to create a center for music, culture, and community in the Canal.  

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