Teacher Learns Twice…and morE
As the end of August nears and fall will soon be upon us, the memories of summer camp may be fading, but the experience still burns brightly in my heart.
This year was my first summer as the Artist-in-Residence and Viola Intensive Program (VIP) Facilitator at the Philadelphia International Festival. Each day of teaching brought back memories of my own summer camp experiences, and I felt a quiet awareness of the impact I was having—one that reached further than I could ever truly know.
It was an honor to assist my viola teacher, Dr. Alice Lindsay, who not only led our 16 VIPs through daily classes in the foundations of viola playing, but together we also taught chamber music and orchestra sectionals, attended student concerts, and met with parents, faculty, and staff—and along the way, she still managed to teach me, too.
Looking back on this summer, I am reminded that the true power of music lies in its heart and community. I was privy to students’ life stories, many facing challenging circumstances and yet, day in and day out they opened their hearts to their friends, teachers and fellow musicians, and worked with such passion, as if there was no worry in the world — these days it seems we all need something uplifting and essential to hold onto.
Thank you to all of my students, their families, Dr. Alice Lindsay, Sandy Marcucci (PIMF President), my friends who visited me at camp, Hetti Prior and all of the faculty and staff at PIMF. You ignited my heart with music and love.
Enjoy a few pictures snapped in the midst of our busy days, and screenshots from our teaching videos.
Listen here to my WFMU radio show “Greetings from Summer Camp” which includes a profile about the VIP program
Article: Jersey City’s WFMU Radio Showcases Violas at The Philadelphia International Music Camp & Festival
For more information, dates and auditions for the VIP program at Philadelphia International Festival: https://philadelphiamusicfestival.org/programs/viola-initiative/