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Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall
For our 17th season in 2024 we were delighted to bring back our series of music programs for youth at juvenile hall running from November through May. These photos are from 2023 sessions featuring Sound Impact’s Music of Revolution program part of which included students composing their own melodies.
Clarinet student Angelyt Escorcia
We shared David Arben with an audience of music students in Panama City at Funsincopa Summer Camp in partnership with Sound Impact. It was a powerful gathering with many tears shed in honor of Mr. Arben and his family. Now available with Spanish subtitles, we look forward to sharing his story with Spanish-speaking audiences!
Arben Film for Young Audiences
Prior to the 2021 public premiere of the Arben docufilm, it was shown in private screenings for hundreds of students with Rebecca and her father, Dr. John Jackson leading Q&A discussions following. Above: Film screenings for sophomores at Scotts Valley High School.
We launched our 2022 youth outreach at the Santa Cruz Juvenile Hall on February 10th beginning with sharing the life of violinist and Holocaust survivor David Arben. Because of the students interest to learn more, their teacher shared that they will be adding an entire unit about the Holocaust. Students shared their impressions/lessons learned:
“Chase your dream and never quit.”
“Don’t take life for granted.”
“I feel inspired to play an instrument.”
Music Programs for Youth
In 2021 MiM presented 11 different musicians representing Hong Kong, Russia, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, China, Venezuela and around the U.S. They shared their personal journey and music’s significance in their lives. Within this series of 18 music e-ducation classes, the youth learned about 9 different classical instruments, heard live and recorded performance, and learned many of the tools that musicians use to practice, perform, communicate, and work with others effectively. One highlight was when Wendy Law led an improvisation activity in which the youth contributed words and rhythms that inspired the creation of a new piece of music.
Continuing this series, in 2022 MiM presented 12 musicians including famed jazz drummer Ulysses Owens Jr. in dynamic programs to educate and uplift youth. Some of the highlights this season included performing newly written compositions by the students as well as teaching them centering activities that can provide calm during life’s high pressure tasks.
Giuseppina Ciarla in Sarasota, Florida
Rufus Olivier, Jr. in California
Anita Graef in Chicago, IL
Ulysses Owens, Jr. in Jacksonville, FL
Jaime Amador in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Julietta Curenton in Maryland
David Byrd-Marrow in Colorado
Wendy Law in Florida
Konstantin Soukhovetski in New York
Juan Jaramillo in Pennsylvania
Denis Jiron in Michigan
Matt Young and Elizabeth Schumann in San Francisco, CA
Film production to honor the life of Holocaust survivor and celebrated violinist, David Arben
MiM partnered with Greg Wimp, owner of Togo’s to present a series of surprise holiday pop up concerts in front of his local shops in Scotts Valley, Watsonville and Capitola. Duos were performed by Rebecca Jackson-Picht, Kristin Garbeff, and Alexandra Leem. We are grateful to Greg for giving us a platform to share music with all of these neighborhoods.
“My mother-in-law has been isolated in preparation for a medical procedure. Thank you for lifting her spirits.”