ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Surviving the coronavirus pandemic was not easy for many student music programs.
But officials say Allentown Symphony's El Sistema program is stronger than ever, and is set to expand its efforts with first-of-its-kind help from the symphony.
The string instrument-focused program of more than 120 kindergarten-through-12th-grade students throughout the Lehigh Valley brings young musicians of different ages, skill levels and backgrounds together daily during the school year.
El Sistema Lehigh Valley was started by the symphony in 2011 as a social empowerment program and way to connect young people with music education.
"Our goal is to teach students how to be good citizens and productive citizens in society as to instill values such as discipline and respect and responsibility in them, to help them to overcome any challenge that may exist now in their lives, or may come up in the future."El Sistema Program Manager Amanda Haag said
Meeting for about two hours after school each day, the program is meant to support "social change through music," relying on a lot of group instruction string instruments provided by the symphony and choral performance, along with tutoring opportunities.
While the program offers different in- and out-of-school learning opportunities, the bulk of students attend at Allentown's Roosevelt Elementary School.
The students are required to have good academic standing and keep regular attendance, while also given many opportunities for leadership within the program.
The program currently has a waitlist, but Lehigh Valley residents can learn more about the symphony's educational and outreach initiatives on its website.
"It's very intensive and immersive for the students upon enrollment, so they're really brought into the whole El Sistema way from the beginning," El Sistema Program Manager Amanda Haag said.
"Our goal is not to create or not to be a music conservatory, and we don't expect all of our students to pursue music after they graduate high school.
"But our goal is to teach students how to be good citizens and productive citizens in society as to instill values such as discipline and respect and responsibility in them, to help them to overcome any challenge that may exist now in their lives, or may come up in the future."
New position to bolster program
To support the effort, the symphony association is hiring a new first-of-its kind position for the organization.
A tenure-track bilingual violinist that will double as a teaching artist with El Sistema and be tasked with engaging with schools and the communities for outreach and education efforts.
The musician-in-residence will be paid $38,000-$41,000 a year, and a fully furnished studio/1 bedroom apartment in Allentown.
Based on the current schedule, the position is set to be appointed by May 10, and the person will serve in the 2nd violin section in addition to the educational responsibilities.
"This is a really innovative position for the Allentown symphony," symphony Director of Education Silagh White said.
"If we want a musician who's going to be playing on the stage, and teaching in the afternoons, and doing all the stuff in the community, they've got to live here, they've got to know what this community is and be a part of this community.
"So that's a big deal, that is a big investment."
We certainly see gaps in a number of area school districts, most notably in our namesake Allentown School District, such as string music education. So it is our hope that programs like El Sistema and the others foster growth in that area.Al Jacobsen, executive director of the Allentown Symphony Association
She said having the position be tenure track is different from typical fellowships, such as that of the composer-in-residence, which are for set timeframes.
Haag said the new position would give students a first-hand look at what it's like to be a professional musician. She said many already are regular attendees of the orchestra, but having an orchestra member as a regular teacher would give them an even closer connection.
"Their relationship with the orchestra and with El Sistema will just help to bridge the small gap that's there between the two," Haag said. "This person will be a great resource and mentor for our students first-hand.
"It's our hope and our goal that this new position will be a resource within the community for the community and help us to connect even more with our community."
Haag said the new position comes after the program was "almost revitalized in a way" after the pandemic forced new perspectives and more individualized instruction, allowing them to more closely connect with individual students.
She said the bilingual nature of the position is very important. Given the amount of Spanish speaking parents and students in Allentown, it will let symphony's education efforts better connect with the community.
Those at the symphony association also say they hope through the efforts and new position, they can help add some much-needed diversity to the orchestral music scene.
Filling a need
The program is inspired by the original El Sistema program, started in Venezuela in the 1970s, and is part of a network of more than 100 organizations that serve more than 25,000 students across the United States, according to the El Sistema USA website.
It does not require an audition, operating on a "first-come, first-served" basis for applicants.
Students in the program are then separated into beginner, intermediate and advanced ensembles and groups based on skill and age.
"Our motto is as an orchestra, we do everything together," Haag said.
"And whether that means sacrificing some of your own personal wants to help the person next to you or something like that, our students really embody that and embrace that."
"I have to say that they are some of the most highly motivated and hardworking individuals I've ever met."
Other symphony education efforts include its annual youth and family concert series, young musician string festival, and regional composer collaborative.
Our motto is as an orchestra, we do everything together. And whether that means sacrificing some of your own personal wants to help the person next to you or something like that, our students really embody that and embrace that"El Sistema Program Director Amanda Haag
Al Jacobsen, the symphony association's executive director, said the program and other youth education efforts are needed, given the gaps that exist in education and outreach, even here in the Lehigh Valley.
"We certainly see gaps in a number of area school districts, most notably in our namesake Allentown School District, such as string music education," Jacobsen said.
"So it is our hope that programs like El Sistema and the others foster growth in that area."
Jacobson said the program also fills some gaps, given cuts previous cuts for music education over the years, including in Allentown School District.
Educating, connecting
"I think it's important that [students] know that it provides them something to do after school provides some more education and just something to, you know, look up to," said Janiece Johnson, a sixth-grade violinist in the program.
"When I had my first concert, it was a bit scary. But as I've done more, it's gotten easier to go through it."
Janiece said that when her parents were volunteering at food banks, she sometimes would bring her violin and play for people there.
She said it was a great experience to be able to share her skills.
At rehearsal Thursday, Janiece and other students were hard at work, learning terminology and practicing string instruments between snack breaks and having a laugh with one another.
Zach Raphael, a teaching artist and cellist often referred to by his students as "Mr. Zach," said he could see giving the kids a sense of structure when learning music as a new skill.
"I was impressed at how many kids there were that wanted to be here," Raphael said. "And of course, there's always going to be kids running around and stuff, but they're very good at focusing when it's time to focus."
Multitude of benefits
Many of the students, both younger and older, said the program them the tools they need to understand music, and taught them the self-discipline needed to proactice and improve.
"You can make your own schedule, and build that discipline of having a schedule for your future life," said Isaias Mora, a ninth-grade Dieruff High School student who plays violin and viola.
"And it also teaches you a lot with about communication and how music can speak. Even though it's just notes, it also carries bunch of words, and a bunch of colors inside that most people don't really see."
Many also said they appreciated the connections the program helped them build.
"It's good to have like this experience meeting different people from different areas, different ethnicities, you make a lot of connections here," said Dominic Caban, a 10th grade Emmaus High School violin player in the program.
"On top of that the kids who do plan on taking this past high school and into their future, it's really good for them to learn young because the world can never have too many musicians."
