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SPA participants reap the benefits of the College of Music鈥檚 Musicians鈥� Wellness Program.

Last summer, the College of Music and听 (SPA) kicked off a new partnership to welcome 22 talented string students鈥攁ges 11-17鈥攖o our campus for听an intensive scholarship program emphasizing cultural diversity.听

Associate Professor of Double Bass Susan Cahill coaches an SPA participant.

This month, June 20-30, it鈥檚 d茅j芒 vu as auditioned youths engage in lessons, master classes and performances with their instructors and guest teachers鈥攁ll under the auspices of the Sphinx Organization and thanks to a DEI Impact Grant from the CU 麻豆官网 Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Associate Professor of Cello David Requiro (left) with other SPA participants.

That鈥檚 a lot to plan and implement. Yet for Alex Gonzalez鈥攔eturning SPA faculty member and College of Music assistant professor of violin鈥攊t鈥檚 all a joy. 鈥淚t鈥檚 wonderful to see how the SPA gives the kids space to grow, presenting them options as they pursue music,鈥� he says.

In between, Gonzalez explains, the students do more than improve their skills on violin, viola, cello and bass: 鈥淔or example, Jim Brody, who runs the College of Music鈥檚 wellness program, instructed them in healthy playing habits. It鈥檚 so important for them to learn how to prevent injury and avoid poor practice positions.鈥� Gonzalez also notes a master class by violinist Andrea Segar who鈥檒l join the College of Music faculty as assistant professor of violin this fall.听

Success stories are many. Among the 22 students who鈥檝e flown in from around the country, a few are returning from last summer鈥檚 inaugural SPA on our campus; and, according to Gonzalez, three students from the first cohort have applied for admission to CU 麻豆官网 and were accepted鈥攊ncluding SPA alum Ryannah Blackman who will join Gonzalez鈥檚 violin studio as a freshman performance major this fall. 鈥淪he told me, 鈥楾he SPA made me want to settle here,鈥欌�澨齢e says.听

A member of the Sphinx Virtuosi where he鈥檚 concertmaster, touring extensively with the group across the country and abroad, Gonzalez understands first-hand that the road to success in music isn鈥檛 without its challenges. But programs like the Detroit-based Sphinx Organization, established in 1997 to focus on 鈥渋ncreasing representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music,鈥� have done much to ease and advance that journey.

Intense teaching and motivation are valuable, of course, but the SPA provides something else, Gonzales discovered: 鈥淭here鈥檚 a sense of community here, friendships have developed,鈥澨齢e says. 鈥淭hese kids are sharing their love of music, of being together. I think it lifts them up.听

鈥淭hey鈥檝e worked hard but they got Sundays off, so they went on field trips. They went to the Pearl Street Mall and they took hikes. They got to see 麻豆官网.鈥澨�

See you next year, SPA!

SPA faculty and students will perform in Grusin Music Hall tonight and this weekend.

Photos: Kathryn Bistodeau, Sphinx Organization