One of the great joys of doing what I'm doing is getting to know people in small organizations around the world who are doing work on the ground to
make this world a better place. It's my privilege, wherever possible, to play for them and support them in any way I can. The first weekend in
January I spent with two such organizations in Dallas, Texas.
The first is called Young Strings. Founded and supported by members of the Dallas Symphony, Young Strings identifies talented musicians from the
African American and Hispanic communities in Dallas and gives them lessons, instruments, and training of the quality found in the best conservatory
youth programs, all for free. It provides a way out of the poverty that many of these kids come from. I came to know twenty or thirty of these
young musicians during my years at Apple Hill and was thrilled to attend a concert by former members of Young Stings who are now in college
studying music. I did a concert and master class for past and present members and also played at the elementary, middle and high school arts magnet
schools from which most of them are drawn.
Thanks to Marcy Schepker of Harrisville, New Hampshire, a friend and neighbor, I played at the Interfaith Housing Coalition before and after care
program. Marcy has spent time doing weaving residencies with the children there and the results are proudly displayed on the walls. This is a
program for homeless families that really works. The families are placed in living quarters adjacent to the center. The children are given quality
educational instruction and meals before and after school as well as transportation to and from school. Parents are given classes in parenting, and
financial planning, as well as help in finding employment. After completing the first part of the program they move to more remote apartments with
slightly more independence while the kids continue in
the after care, and parents continue classes, until the whole family graduates, having found work and their own lodging. The success rate is very
high. The rooms in the school are bright and cheerful and the teaching is of the highest level. There is a wide range of ages and at my performance
there was great attention and lots of questions.
Read more about them below.
Dallas Young Strings http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=270
make this world a better place. It's my privilege, wherever possible, to play for them and support them in any way I can. The first weekend in
January I spent with two such organizations in Dallas, Texas.
The first is called Young Strings. Founded and supported by members of the Dallas Symphony, Young Strings identifies talented musicians from the
African American and Hispanic communities in Dallas and gives them lessons, instruments, and training of the quality found in the best conservatory
youth programs, all for free. It provides a way out of the poverty that many of these kids come from. I came to know twenty or thirty of these
young musicians during my years at Apple Hill and was thrilled to attend a concert by former members of Young Stings who are now in college
studying music. I did a concert and master class for past and present members and also played at the elementary, middle and high school arts magnet
schools from which most of them are drawn.
Thanks to Marcy Schepker of Harrisville, New Hampshire, a friend and neighbor, I played at the Interfaith Housing Coalition before and after care
program. Marcy has spent time doing weaving residencies with the children there and the results are proudly displayed on the walls. This is a
program for homeless families that really works. The families are placed in living quarters adjacent to the center. The children are given quality
educational instruction and meals before and after school as well as transportation to and from school. Parents are given classes in parenting, and
financial planning, as well as help in finding employment. After completing the first part of the program they move to more remote apartments with
slightly more independence while the kids continue in
the after care, and parents continue classes, until the whole family graduates, having found work and their own lodging. The success rate is very
high. The rooms in the school are bright and cheerful and the teaching is of the highest level. There is a wide range of ages and at my performance
there was great attention and lots of questions.
Read more about them below.
Dallas Young Strings http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=270
| Dallas Tour 2007 |
Greiner Middle School Concert
Interfaith Housing Coalition after the concert
Lyndon B Johnson Grasslands National Monument
Child's artwork from the Interfaith Housing Coalition
Interfaith Housing Coalition
| Lunchtime at the Interfaith Housing Coalition |
Interfaith Housing Coalition
Interfaith Housing Coalition
Interfaith Housing Coalition
Greiner Middle School
Greiner Middle School
Greiner Middle School
Greiner Middle School
Interfaith Housing Coalition http://www.ihcdallas.org
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