VIA Academy String Sectional
VIA Academy’s inaugural free summer music program took place in two sessions from June 20th - July 2nd, reaching 161 students over the two weeks in 37 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. VIA Academy engaged students from remote and underrepresented communities in classical music and ranged in age from 13-18 years old. The students were joined with 12 teaching artists who all were Fellows or Alumni of the New World Symphony. VIA Academy also presented classes with 7 guest speakers varying from financial support and career pathways to optimal performance practice and yoga for musicians. Below are a complete list of guest speakers:
Angelica Hairston: Harpist and Founder, Challenge the Stats
Alex Gonzalez: Violinist and Interim Principal 2nd Violin, Louisville Orchestra
Eric Jacobsen: Conductor and Cellist, The Knights, Orlando Philharmonic, Greater Bridgeport Symphony
Rebekah Heller: Bassoonist and Co-Artistic Director, International Contemporary Ensemble
Noa Kageyama: Performance Physiology, Bulletproof Musician blog, Juilliard Faculty
Nicole Newman: Yoga for the Arts, Flutist
Michael Linville: Dean of Chamber Music, New World Symphony
Students had the opportunity to create a supportive bond under the mentorship of their teaching artist over the two sessions. In addition to the guest speaker classes, they received private lessons, mentoring sessions, daily warm up classes, sectionals and took part in a recording project of Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations. The mentoring sessions were a big pillar in the curriculum. By having the mentoring session on the first day, it enabled each student to express their future aspirations for the teaching artists to tailor their instruction directly for each individual student. Repeating a second mentoring session on the last day allows the students to reflect upon the week’s discussions and how it has either changed or motivated their initial ambitions. Across the board, our students reflected an uplifting motivation as well as a widening of perspectives on what could be possible in their future careers.
Below is a complete list of the teaching artists for the VIA Academy:
Christopher Robinson, Violin
Marlea Simpson, Viola
Ben Fryxell, Cello
Andrea Beyer, Bass
Johanna Gruskin, Flute
Emily Beare, Oboe
Angelo Quail, Clarinet
Bee Ungar, Bassoon
Corbin Castro, Horn
Aaron Ney, Trumpet
Lisa Stoneham, Trombone
Andy Abel, Tuba
Music education in our country often excludes youth on all levels from the very beginning. These systemic issues often reflect upon the classical music profession in negative ways. VIA Academy strives to create an inclusive music education program that provides access to high-quality instruction and truly empowering youth to reach their dreams. By doing so, we hope to show young music students that career paths are limitless and not bound by stereotypical norms that get portrayed in higher education. These future initiatives with VIA Academy will continue to create the opportunity for classical music to evolve into a profession that also reflects upon the genre's core purpose and values.
See the map below to discover where our students are from: