High Access, and High Expectations
In the early 2000s, a remarkable trend emerged in the Northern Hemisphere as massive youth orchestras began to flourish in cities and towns across Venezuela. Known as “El Sistema,” this concept became widely recognized among educators. Its core principles were straightforward: create access in communities where it is lacking, provide necessary resources, and gather young people for intensive periods to foster rapid skill development. The philosophy behind El Sistema emphasizes that when an ensemble thrives, it reflects society at its best, as all members work collaboratively toward a shared goal. In 2013, the Superintendent of Trenton Public Schools, who had a background in modern dance, prioritized the revitalization of the arts in schools and partnered with us to establish an after school orchestra. We began our journey in 2015 with three teachers and thirty violinists at one school. By 2021, Trenton Music Makers had expanded to include over 200 violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists from 26 public, charter, and parochial schools in Trenton. We consolidated our operations from four different locations into a single, high-powered orchestra site located at Westminster Presbyterian Church, a vibrant community hub in the East Ward, bridging Chambersburg and the Wilbur District. This October, we completed our first full year with our Percussion Ensemble, a vision of our Artistic Director aimed at creating the “Trenton Sound.” The ensemble blends the rich rhythms representative of students’ diverse cultures with Western classical music and string instruments. Our percussion ensemble has proven to be a distinct and wonderful addition to the TMM identity, allowing young percussionists to perform alongside the orchestra, grandly complementing our string offerings.
“I know that this is what I love to do the most and that I am going to be a professional violinist.” Lydia, 11 (Violin) What have you learned about yourself by being a musician in TMM?
CAPITAL HARMONY WORKS | ANNUAL REPORT 2023-24
07
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker