When we witness a student discovering their boundless potential, it affirms Anne’s Crowden’s founding vision of centering music in children’s foundational education. I invite you to read excerpts from 7th grader Damir’s reflection (with his permission) on what playing chamber music is teaching him about himself, and about life:

Musical performance with others has taught me to appreciate life. It has done this by teaching me life lessons like listening. An example of this is in my first ensemble rehearsals. In these, I was focused singularly on playing my part, but to truly understand my part, I would have to understand how it connects to the piece as a whole. When I began to focus on the piece as a whole, a new world and meaning to the music was revealed. Every note I had played now encompassed layers of meaning that when combined, formed a coherent multidimensional work of art. This is of course important in regard to music, but the generic lesson of listening is applicable everywhere. Chamber music has helped me fully understand the meaning and heart of what it is to listen. 

Musical performance has also helped me understand other people. I have found that everyone brings part of themselves to music. I have learned about people and been taught to never judge a person before I truly get to know them through music. One explanation for this is that everyone is like a piece of music themselves. Every voice in a contrapuntal texture is like a detail in someone’s personality. The more I learn about a person, the more there is to understand. This has taught me to never judge someone because I can never know a person as well as the person knows themselves.

The final aspect of life that musical performance has helped me understand, is the connection that brings the universe together. When I performed at solo concerts there was excitement and anticipation, but this was never able to show me the full joy and potential of musical performance. When I first performed with chamber ensembles however, there was a connection. Every note and rest was synchronized between those I was performing with and myself. Everything I felt through the music was felt by those around me. At these moments I felt connected to everything. I felt connected with my fellow performers and audience members. It was this connection that showed me the possibility of connection throughout the world. 

Performing music has helped me appreciate and do the most with my life, and for this, I am and will be forever grateful.

Such extraordinary awareness–of self, community, the world, and the raw power of music to connect us all–that Damir shares with us here! He is finding the tools for such wondrous and reflective self-discovery through the power of collaborative music, and the values that Crowden’s program imbues in the process of creating it. His curiosity, creativity, and empathy epitomize Anne’s vision of creating “virtuoso children,” not just virtuoso musicians, and his words remind us all of our humanity and humility, and give me hope for the future. 

Warm regards,

Eugene Sor, Artistic Director