SEPTEMBER 2021

A NOTE FROM JANE

After 18 months of remote learning, we were overjoyed to welcome our students back to Kerner this summer. Seeing them with smiles; greeting one another with cellos and trombones, violins and clarinets in tote, was heartwarming beyond words. 

The highlight of this summer was co-hosting our first annual Summer Chamber Music Camp with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra.

Sixteen ELM students were divided into 4 chamber groups which rehearsed daily for two weeks. The camp culminated in a concert outside our ELM rehearsal space. Our banner was flung over the balcony which was strewn with Mexican papel picados and tea lights. In the glow of early evening, with our appreciative guests and families overflowing in the cul-de-sac, students performed in our front garden. Watch Finale

During the camp, I sat in on many of the rehearsals. One child, a violinist, seemed to struggle with his part. The trill that he needed to execute interrupted his beat and threw his chamber partners off rhythm. I was tempted to ask the coach to ask him simply play the piece without the ornamental trill and am now grateful that I didn’t. What I later learned at the culmination of the camp made me glad that I didn’t do so.

This afternoon I began to review the student evaluations from the camp.

This young violinist wrote:
“My favorite part of camp is playing trumpet voluntary violin 2’s trill part.” 

Who could have guessed that mastering this trill would be his favorite part of camp.  His pride in mastery was worth everything.  ELM is about the music, and so much more.

 We never know what small interaction or experience will make a lasting impression on our students – positive or negative.

Also, this summer two of our students had opportunities well beyond ELM, the Canal neighborhood, or even the Bay Area.  One in particular, Nicolas Lau, was invited on full scholarship to attend a two-week summer music camp at the New England Conservatory.

Enjoy this interview with Nicolas and Kate Fitzsimmons.

ELM has resumed our full schedule, respecting Covid precautions.  After a year-long hiatus, we have once again admitted 20 bright, excited third grade violinists and cellists.  Stay tuned for updates on how they are faring as our newest ELM students.

We look forward to announcing our upcoming Winter Concert scheduled for December 12th once we determine a location.

Warmly,

Jane Kramer, PhD, Founder and Executive Director

P.S. We are always looking for new tutors and reading buddies. Please get in touch if you are interested.

STUDENT CONNECTIONS

ELM Students are Back

We are over the moon to see students return to ELM for our after school program. San Pedro students come by school bus and Venetia Valley students join together at our new “quad,” a four-room suite of classrooms that creates our own hub for wind and brass students.

“My favorite time of the day is when the yellow school bus stops in front of our door and children toting violins and cellos spill out and file past my window,” notes Jane. “They wave on their way in as they head to violin or cello class. I just love it!”

We're being extra cautious since over half of our students are under 12 and not yet eligible for vaccines. We play outside when we can particularly with our wind and brass students who require extra protection from the aerosol emitted through playing.

Summer Chamber Music Camp

Our first annual 2-week intensive Summer Chamber Music Camp was so much fun for students and the energetic teaching staff from the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. We celebrated the achievements of the students with an outdoor concert at ELM, our first live performance since December 2019.

Cazadero Music Camp

In addition to our chamber music camp, ELM provided eight ELM students with scholarships to attend Cazadero Music Camp, a sleep-away camp nestled in the redwoods of Sonoma County. This is a rare opportunity for youth from a broad range of backgrounds and music abilities to come together and immerse themselves in music and carefree summer camp fun.

ELM IN THE COMMUNITY

Latinx Heritage Month

Celebrate Latinx Heritage month in San Rafael. From great barbers to the most delicious food, please support these local businesses owned and operated by members of the Latinx community.

ELM SPOTLIGHTS

Nicolas Lau, Musician and Mentor

Our spotlight this issue is Nicolas Lau, an ELM senior who started playing the recorder with Jane when he was 7 years old. Two years later he took up the violin and from there has become an extraordinary musician and thoughtful mentor to other students. Nicolas talks to ELM Spotlight host, Kate Fitzsimmons about what he loves about music and why mentoring is so important.

ELM IS GROWING

Megan Frei joins ELM

We welcomed Megan Frei, our Operations and Development Associate, to our team this month. She will provide support for the ELM office including communications and donor relations.

An English Literature graduate of Cal, she recently got her Masters from National University of Ireland Galway where she worked, travelled, and wrote her postgraduate dissertation: In the Name of the New Mestiza: Chicana Narratives Revisited in Ana Castillo’s "So Far from God." 

Megan looks forward to making a positive impact in our community!

We also welcome a few new teachers this fall including our interim Music Director, Tristan Arnold. You may know his name because Tristan has conducted for ELM in the past and worked as an advisor to ELM for years. Tristan is also co-director of the music department at Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join our Legacy Circle

Remembering ELM in your estate planning is an easy way to make a lasting contribution that will help ensure our sustainability.   Learn more

Major Support Provided By

Additional Support Provided By

Maestro Circle
Gifts of $50,000+

Buck Family Fund of MCF
Fullerton Family Foundation
Solli Ball Family Fund
Tiana Wimmer & Warren Leiden

Virtuoso’s Circle
Gifts of $25,000+

Bob M Brown Fund
California Arts Council
California Relief Program
Carnegie Hall Play USA
Clarence E. Heller Charitable Foundation
JAMBAR Fund
Kimball Foundation
Margot Fraser Fund
Sarane T. Bowen Charitable Fund

Conductor’s Circle
Gifts of $10,000+

Bob M Brown Fund
George Family Foundation
Susan & Dennis Gilardi
Grace Hughes
Kurland Family Foundation
Lori Lerner & Terry Berkemeier
Marin County Community Service Fund
Orchard House Foundation
Peter E. Haas Jr. Family Fund
Jane Robinson
Sara Sackner & Andy Behar
Scorpio Rising Fund
Sklar Family Fund

Concert Masters
Gifts of $5,000+

Anonymous Donor
Deanne Stone
Drs. Dennie P and Thomas Wolf
Fred Gellert Family Foundation
Giving Marin Community Partnership
Gloria and Saul Feldman
Hank Barner Fund
Jamie Waters & Gordon Danielson
Kramer-Feldman Family Charitable Fund
Meehan Foundation Lynn Olson
Monica Bonny & Michael Perigo
The Lewis Prize for Music
The Mary Hynes and Marc Tessier-Lavigne Gifting Fund
The Patty and Jack Wright Foundation

Section Leaders
Gifts of $1,000+

Debbie Ablin
Amy and Seth Barad Family Fund
Lesley Anderson MD and Paula Zand
Awesome Foundation
Barbara Axelband
Bank of Marin
Sylvia Boorstein
Terry Bright & Tom Wilson
Andrea Bruno & Jonathan Epstein
D'Addario Foundation
Marsha & Tom Dugan
Eli Noyes and Augusta Talbot Charitable Fund
Joan Emery & Eddy Rubin
Liz Etkin-Kramer & Peter Kramer
Robert Goldman
Ruth Greenfield
Griffiths Family Charitable Fund
Hagar Family Foundation
Hein Family Fund for Marin
JAK Fund
Mike & Saori Kappus
Elaine Kramer
Langston Family Fund
Little Village Foundation
Marin Charitable
Jennie Martzloff & Gary Ruff
Ann & Andrew Mathieson
Laura & Barry Miller
Northern Trust
Purple Lady/Barbara J. Meislin Fund
Renee & David Cullinan Fund
Richardson Family Fund
Rotary Club of San Rafael Harbor
Lynn Roy
Nancy Schlegel
Sueli Shaw
Bob and Betsy Stafford
Monica & Scot Stafford
The Klebanoff-Cohen Fund
The Tierney Bindelglass Charitable Fund
Michele & Kwei Ü
Laura vanMunching
David & Suzanne Warner
Nicole Whiting
Whole Foods Market Community Giving Program

Gifts In Kind

Janice Chow & Allen Ng
Crescendo Connect
Dawse Properties
Tim Porter Photography
Mary Fleming & George Khouri
Mary Haber
Richard Holway
Lucile Irwin
Merel Kennedy
Kenn Kovitz
Marla Krause
Make It Better Foundation
Julie Mellon
Miriam Perkoff & Michael Grossman
Jeff Ross
Sheri Tye
Lisa William Zigmund

Community Partners 

Agricultural Institute of Marin
Branson High School
Canal Alliance
Delicious! Catering
El Sistema USA
Marin Promise
Multicultural Center of Marin
One Found Sound
San Francisco Chamber Orchestra
San Rafael City Schools 

And Donors Like You!

ELM provides youth with an immersive music education that empowers them to pursue their dreams and access resources they need to succeed in life.