BCMS believes in giving back to the community and contributing to the future of chamber music by involving itself in music education in local schools. The BCMS Teaching Artist Program engages a team of professional string players as musicians-in-residence at the Somerville High School (SHS) for the duration of the school year. These teaching artists work with participants of the SHS String Orchestra, promoting students’ skill advancement, leadership, communication skills and development of peer relationships.
The SHS String Orchestra is an elective open to all interested students regardless of skill level or prior musical experience. Nearly two-thirds of the participants live in households in which English is the second language, and several are in their first year at an American public school. As such, the String Orchestra presents a challenging yet fertile environment in which to build an inclusive and supportive community centered on music-making.
The BCMS Teaching Artists coach weekly sectionals and perform a chamber music concert each semester at the school. The TA program provides integral support to the orchestra by giving more individualized attention to students, facilitating peer mentorship and promoting active participation and camaraderie. In addition to the activities at SHS, all String Orchestra students and their families are offered free admission to BCMS’s open rehearsals and season concerts.
The program allows BCMS an opportunity to promote a new residency to engage emerging local chamber musicians of quality, address an urgent need among motivated students, and develop a future audience at an age when habits of civic and cultural engagement are formed.
Comments from SHS String Orchestra students
“I became a much better cello player and was able to really grow. The section became much more prominent and reliable.”
“I felt the mentors really helped with my confidence, especially as a complete beginner. They were amazingly patient.”
“The BCMS sessions improved my ability to listen both to the rest of my section and the orchestra overall. They emphasized the importance of dynamics, counting rests, and listening.”
“They gave great feedback, AND were very receptive to our suggestions as well. It taught me to be a better leader.”
In recent years the program has been funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the BCMS Foundation, the Paul and Edith Babson Foundation, the Hamilton Company Foundation, the Foley Hoag Foundation, the Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation, the Harvard/MIT Coop, James Joslin, and Thomas and Katharine Kush, and Ms. Elizabeth Boveroux. We are seeking additional funders to fully support the program with the aim of growing it into a multi-year project.