Music camps throughout the North Province - such wonderful things being accomplished!
First up was La Victoire, a brand new music program in a very impoverished area - this WILL make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children!
I spent five days in this community with a fabulous group of 14 Haitian music teachers - most of whom have either been my students or participants in the various seminars BLUME Haiti sponsors aimed at professional development and capacity building.
They were AWESOME and it was so exciting to see that our efforts to mentor young professionals and to create a network of knowledgeable and caring performers and teachers is bearing fruit.
Jonel, a superb young leader, teacher and performer, talking with some of the kids about the instruments they might choose to play - wow!
La Victoire is the second most economically challenged area in the north province of Haiti. Our hosts there were Evans Paul, a very dynamic agronomist/pastor and his wonderful wife, Karina.
Through best practices in agriculture, Evans has been instrumental in helping to raise the standard of living in the community. A bass guitarist, pianist and clarinetist himself, music opened doors for Evans and changed his life. He wants the same possibilities for the children of his home town, many of whom don't see much of a future for themselves.
“Never ever ever Give up” - the t-shirt says it all!
In this somewhat remote and very rural area, where only three families own cars and where, until just a few years ago, kids walked two hours a day to and from school, music will have a tangible impact on the lives of these youngsters.
It was exhilarating to see the excitement of the kids (choosing instruments was SUCH a big deal) and inspiring to see how well the Haitian staff taught: with joy, devotion, love, and discipline. Bringing a music school to this community will open doors and provide options and possibilities that were unimaginable before.
After our five days in La Victoire, I returned to Cap Haitian and, from there, made several day trips to teach at four CEMUCHCA annexes: Grand Rivière du Nord, Vaudreuil, Limbe, and Occide Jeanty.
The Grand Rivière du Nord annex started last year - it is very impressive to see their progress. The kids clearly LOVE playing and the joy and enthusiasm for learning is palpable!
The CEMUCHCA Limbe program is the most established of the CEMUCHCA annexes having started in 2011. They have a terrific band program and are developing their string program as well.
The CEMUCHCA Occide Jeanty Annex is thriving. This program is run by the indefatigable Tchoupy Hylaris, a master teacher, luthier, composer, violinist, saxophonist, conductor, band leader, who has participated in a number of the capacity building seminars we have sponsored. The annex is thriving. Below are photos of daily teaching/playing activities and the closing concert of the camp.
And the original CEMUCHCA music school is also going great guns. Here are a few photos from the daily teaching/playing activities.
Our commitment is to collaborate with our Haitian partners to extend the benefits of music education to not only these communities but also to many others, helping to create brighter futures for children and young adults throughout the country.
In Haiti, music education can offer a lifeline to many young people by providing them with a means of self-expression and hope amidst challenging circumstances.
We take immense pride in our role in amplifying the life-affirming influence of music education throughout the country, igniting positive change and hope for a brighter future. Together, we help to foster a harmonious and resilient society through the transformative power of music.
