Summer Music!

Summer is now officially here and that means that preparations for music camps are underway throughout Haiti. We will support close to 30 music programs with funding either in the form of scholarships or operating expenses for their music camps.

In Haiti, summer camps are an extraordinary mix of social, civic, and musical collaboration, bringing together young musicians from widely diverse backgrounds who work, live, and play together. As one of our scholarship students put it several years ago, “music makes us human.”

Laura, a volunteer teacher from Spain, having fun with her students; Holy Trinity Music Camp, 2018

Over the years, we have seen many of the music camps become more open, welcoming musicians from across Haiti. This has made an important contribution to the connections many of these young musicians have with their peers from around the country. They know that there are others who share their intense interest in music, who also believe that “music can save Haiti,” and that "with music, we can rebuild Haiti, we can have a different Haiti."

As another of our scholarship recipients puts it: "Before I came to BLUME Haiti I didn't even know there were so many people in Haiti who loved classical music. It gave me the opportunity to learn within the framework of an orchestra."

Tchoupy conducting the CEMUCHCA camp orchestra, 2017

The importance of these music camps in terms of bringing hope, joy, solace, and community to the participants cannot be overstated! We are making a real effort to offer scholarships to young musicians in Port-au-Prince, a city plagued by daily clashes between rival gangs, with kidnappings and worse on the rise.

Research has shown that music programs help to teach:

·      Leadership development

·      Self-Confidence

·      Teamwork

·      Critical Thinking Skills

·      Communication Skills

·      Problem Solving

·      Perseverance

In a resource poor environment, creativity and problem solving skills are necessary!

No stands? No problem!

This really comes to the fore in a music camp setting. Imagine a young girl, maybe 10 years old, performing for an audience of over 250, and beaming to hear the whoops and wild applause when she finishes the last note – it’s awesome to see!

Young recorder players at the Marmelade Music Camp: 2022

Music camps are often the only time during the year when more advanced musicians can work with master teachers. The security situation in the capital is not good and this, combined with the pandemic, has really reduced the number of international volunteer teachers at music camps around the country. However, a few intrepid souls will join me in the north where things are quite safe.

Anna and a young student: Cemuchca, 2019

We can always use more financial support to be able to send more deserving musicians to camp. You can donate here: www.blumehaiti.org/donate

Mèsi!