TITLE 2018–2019 PROGRAM BOOK TITLE2018–2019 CALENDAR Music Haven students perform dozens of concerts a year throughout the city. Here is a sample of what is in store for this season... Monday, November 12 Veterans Day Concert Mon. Nov 12 – Fri. Nov 16 Fall Studio Recital Week Thursday, December 13 Winter Performance Party Monday, January 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Concert Mon. March 11 – Fri. March 15 Spring Studio Recital Week Thursday, April 4 Discovery Orchestra Concert at NHSO Wednesday, April 10 Honors Recital Thursday, May 30 Around the World Performance Party Students also play at community spaces such as Smilow Cancer Center, Connecticut Mental Health Center, and public libraries. Front Cover: Jeanna’e and Damani, 2018 Music Haven Graduates. 100% of the students in our first graduating cohort were accepted to four-year colleges. Music Haven • Erector Square • 315 Peck Street, Building 5, Second Floor Mailing Address: Music Haven, 315 Peck Street, Box A 10, New Haven, CT 06513 ATITLE Letter from the Executive Director “Music Haven gave me a home even when home wasn’t home for me.” – Music Haven student If you stop by on a Friday afternoon, you’ll hear it before you even open the door. The discerning ear will pick out a little Britten, some Twinkle, perhaps some solfege coming from Music Theory class, accented by the the sound of snacks and the zipping of backpacks. Open the door and you’ll see it: all life and love and a glorious mess of beautiful young faces and instrument cases in a light-filled expanse of music-making that fills an entire converted factory floor. This place in which A.C. Gilbert once manufactured “Erector Set” toys--introduced in 1913 as “Educational, Instructive, and Amusing”—is filled with young people engaged in variations on that same theme. They are making much more than music, and the space we now have the pleasure of calling home is more than classrooms and rehearsal spaces. It is a true haven. Our students told us as much when they explained what keeps them coming back, despite the many hours of hard work we require of them each week. “Music Haven was a safe haven for me.” (violist, 18) “It gave me a way to express myself in a new way. It also helps me not to be stressed.” (cellist, 13) “It makes me a better person. I love it very much.” (violinist, 9) “It’s like a family.” (violinist, 14) “I feel like I’m at home and I feel really comfortable.” (cellist, 11) There is no shortage of danger, hate, distrust, and fear waiting for our kids when they step out into the world. At a time when those who seek refuge or opportunity are being turned away, turned in, or torn from their families, we have a space of love, freedom, and inclusion, built around a very simple form— the string quartet. The very structure of our new space exists to protect this rare thing in which people must listen carefully to each other, respond with both sensitivity and courage, adapt to each other’s needs, offer support, and stop to marvel when someone is on a roll. Each voice must carry its own part knowing the full integrity of this structure depends on it. Or as one of our 9-year-olds put it, “Always take responsibility and try your best.” In June 2018, our first group of students graduated. All have gone on to college. They couldn’t have imagined as tiny 6-year-olds first feeling the weight of an instrument in their tiny hands what they’d grow to create together. It’s only because they, their families, their teachers, and our supporters have stuck with it over so many years that we have the Music Haven we have today, in a space of our own where we feel safe, welcomed, valued, heard, and free to make music, make mistakes, take chances, try Front Cover: Jeanna’e and Damani, 2018 Music Haven Graduates. again, or ask for help. Everyone should have a place like that. 100% of the students in our first graduating cohort were accepted to four-year colleges. Music Haven • Erector Square • 315 Peck Street, Building 5, Second Floor Mailing Address: Music Haven, 315 Peck Street, Box A 10, New Haven, CT 06513 Mandi Jackson, Executive Director TITLE “I’ve been through a lot in my past year, and Music Haven has always pushed me to be better. I loved rising to the challenges and expectations.” – Austin, age 16 OUR STAFF OUR TEACHING TITLE FACULTY Haven String Quartet Mandi Jackson, Executive Director Yaira Gregory Matyakubova Tompkins violin violin Milda McClain, Director of Operations and Outreach Annalisa Philip Boerner Boulanger viola cello Becky Paugh, Events and Donor Relations Manager Resident Musician Karina Irizarry, Administrative and Student Support Coordinator Patrick Doane, violin Discovery Orchestra Program OUR BOARD Marc Mann, President Diane Ariker Kafi Rouse Laura Altshul, Vice President Lygia Davenport Joseph Satin Anna Garsten, Secretary Stephanie Halene Bryna Scherr Lawrence Harris, Treasurer Sarah Heath Juliana Wilson Wendy Marans, Past President Jamillaah Roberson Clara Wilson-Hawken THE MISSION Music Haven empowers and connects young people through exceptional tuition-free music education, mentoring, and performance by our resident musicians in the heart of New Haven, giving all kids a chance to play. OUR PROGRAMS ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS All students receive weekly Private Lessons with one of our Resident Musicians. They come together for Studio Classes, celebrations, recitals, and potluck dinners, building a community and strong relationships with their peers and teachers over many years. In our new rigorous Music Theory Program, we use a mix of aural, visual, and kinesthetic methods to teach music fundamentals so that each student can develop fluency in his/her own way. In Time Travel, our Music History class, students travel through time and space through music, listening, locating places of origin on the globe, journaling, and drawing what they hear. High school-aged Music Haven Fellows are trained to assist group classes and serve as mentors and practice buddies to our younger students. They also have opportunities for college/concert trips and special workshops and events. ENSEMBLES Discovery Orchestra is Music Haven’s beginner ensemble and introduces students to the fundamentals of string playing. Discovery Orchestra students also receive homework help, healthy snacks, and participate in all Music Haven concerts and events. Before Music Haven students are ready for Harmony in Action, they play in a variety of Beginning and Intermediate Ensembles. They rehearse weekly, learn and play level-appropriate repertoire, build music-reading and musicianship skills, and learn to work and play together with other young musicians. Our Student Chamber Groups are for intermediate to advanced students. They play in concerts throughout the year, rehearse weekly, and are coached by members of the Haven String Quartet. The Quartet Apprenticeship Program provides training and opportunities to play professional paid engagements. Harmony in Action is Music Haven’s advanced student chamber orchestra. Harmony in Action students also plan social action projects, engage with guest speakers, participate in workshops, and attend concert trips, as well as an annual retreat. Music Haven 2017-2018 In Review 5500 hours of high quality programming 100% acceptance rate into 4-year colleges for our graduates 4896 snacks served 92% year-to-year retention rate 90% attendance rate 93% of students reported that they improved significantly in their playing this year 3/ of students said studying an instrument at Music 4 Haven made them a better student at school 2/ of students said playing music helps them to calm 3 down when they are stressed out 9 out of 10 students said that they felt they were part of a community at Music Haven “At Music Haven I learned that when playing, TITLE play from your heart.” – Austina, violinist, age 10 Austina began at Music Haven in 2016 as part of our Music Bridge initiative—a beginner violin group class for young refugees. Today Austina is a 3rd-year Music Haven violinist, taking one-on-one lessons, group classes, and playing in our De Capo Chamber Ensemble. Funding Sources 2017-2018 10% Federal, State and Local Grants 34% Individual 2% In Kind 1% Corporate 52% Foundations OUR STUDENTS MUSICMUSIC HAVENHAVEN Students by Race / Ethnicity, 2017-2018 Asian 5% 2017–2018 Other 2017-2018 6% White # of students from low-income 9% neighborhoods participating in Music African-American 76 Haven lessons, classes, mentoring, 51% and ensembles 100% free of charge. Latino/a 29% % of Music Haven students from OUR NEIGHBORHOODS families with incomes below $50,000, a Edgewood threshold identified by DataHaven for 2% 78 failure to meet basic needs and "chronic East Rock 3% stress." (Community Index 2013). Beaver Hills 4% Dixwell West Rock 20% 8% # of performances by Music Haven Other students and their teachers--the Haven 9% 48 String Quartet--performed in New The Hill Haven and throughout the region 17% Dwight 12% Average number of hours per week Newhallville Fair Haven 12% 13% 4.5 each student spends at Music 86% of our students live in neighborhoods with the city’s highest rates of Haven. Some are at Music Haven child poverty, crime, and unemployment--Dixwell, the Hill, Fair Haven, up to 11 hours each week. Newhallville, Dwight, West Rock, and Beaver Hills. Parents reporting participation has improved their child's academic 100%of our graduates have gone on to performance at school: OUR RESULTS attend a 4-year college, compared to 65% college entrance rate This year, at least 90% of our overall for the high schools our families reported that our students: students attend (CSDE, 2017).