Music is one of those things that make us feel a little less alone in the world

As we near the end of another year and another decade (where do they go, anyway?), I want to take the time this week to remind everyone of the wonderful benefit we bring to our community through our offerings, staff and students. Let me cite some examples of recent happenings that reinforce the good work we do in our own unique way at The Music Settlement.

There are few experiences more moving than a roomful of children, ranging in age from preschooler to young adult, making beautiful music together. Last Saturday was one of those moments for The Music Settlement. It was then that our Suzuki Program and our Jazz Prep Program performed at Eaton Collection in Beachwood, as part of a week-long sponsorship opportunity with Northeastern Ohio’s Barnes & Noble bookstores.

The Suzuki group filled a section of the lobby with nearly fifty performers and an equal number of audience members, and featured nearly 90 minutes of selections ranging from the classical canon to holiday favorites. Nearly all of our Suzuki students in violin, viola, cello, and bass were represented. Each section and age group made contributions to the performance, with several pieces (notably Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star) played by the entire ensemble. It was quite a sight to see this group of children, aged from 5 to 17, playing beautiful music together with discipline and feeling. The Music Settlement’s Suzuki faculty is doing terrific work with their students and, as is traditional in the Suzuki Method, was also making great music that day as they played along with the group. My hat is off to Rachel Schultz-Zeithamel, Nicole Castleberry, Callista Koh, Rachel Bernstein, Kate Homer, Kim Lauritsen, Lisa Whitfield, Rei Sakurai-Cohen, and any other instructor who helped to make the day so special for everyone.

The Jazz Prep Progam combo wrapped up the day in their usual stellar style. Under the guidance of Eric Gould and Glenn Holmes, they mixed a variety of instrumentation around a selection of jazz classics that were delivered with their usual high level of musicianship and interpretation. The young people who have sharpened their talents through this relatively new program at The Music Settlement have become highly sought after to perform at various functions throughout our area. Catch them if you can!

One of The Music Settlement’s most distinguished faculty members, Ida Mercer, Chair of the Strings Department in our Department of Music, and founding member of the Almeda Trio, an ensemble-in-residence at The Music Settlement, was singled out for a very special honor this past week. She was awarded a $20,000 Creative Workforce Fellowship from Cuyahoga Arts and Culture, the cigarette tax-funded cultural arts initiative for Cuyahoga County. She was one of 20 individual artists chosen from an applicant pool of over 160 to receive the honor, which consists of undesignated support to be used to strengthen both her personal artistic vision and the region’s arts in general. All of us who know Ida are not surprised she received such a prestigious award. She embodies a life dedicated to the arts and to the creative possibilities inherent in self expression, collaboration, and experimentation. She has brought great energy and ideas to our campus, and infuses her individual art with an imagination and verve that captivates those of us who experience it. Bravo, Ida - this is a very well-deserved honor.

This is just a hint of the kind of value we provide every day in our efforts to spread the joy of a music-based educational or therapeutic experience. If you don’t already enjoy the benefit of our many talents, please join us in the new year ahead!