Presented by Somerville musicians of all ages
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El Sistema Somerville youth orchestra is tuned up and ready to perform at the 2nd Annual “Community in Harmony” concert at the new East Somerville Community School Auditorium next week.

By Robert Summers

Starting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, the El Sistema Somerville youth orchestra and other gifted Somerville musicians of all ages will perform at the 2nd Annual “Community in Harmony” concert at the new East Somerville Community School Auditorium, 50 Cross Street.

The program will include Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, Pachelbel’s Canon, Bach’s Minuet No. 2, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and other holiday favorites.

This concert is a collaboration of musicians from throughout the city, including the Somerville High School Chorus and the All-City Chamber Orchestra. The “Community in Harmony” title is emblematic of Somerville’s community-wide commitment to music, and to promoting social change through music.

“This concert showcases the amazing depth of musicianship that exists in Somerville, and truly highlights the beauty that comes from a collaborative effort,” said El Sistema Somerville Director, Diane Cline. “Community in Harmony is just that, a community coming together to harmonize and celebrate the season. This is an incredibly inspiring concert. We hope you’ll join us and experience it for yourselves.”

Now in its second year of existence, El Sistema Somerville virtually doubled in size from its inaugural year to a current enrollment of 70 young musicians from grades three through five.  Students are under the guidance of Ms. Cline and a dedicated team of music instructors that includes Claudia Garcia, Silas de Oliveira, Serena Eades, Pamela Cumming, and David Palombo.  The group’s first concert of the season on October 29 included 10 musical pieces and was a phenomenal success, with approximately 250 people in attendance.

El Sistema Somerville is modeled after the El Sistema program that started in Venezuela in 1975, and is the first El Sistema program in the United States to be founded by a municipal government that is fully integrated with a public school district music department.

El Sistema Somerville is an intensive afterschool program that includes 10 hours per week – 2 hours daily – of music instruction and rehearsal, body movement, and academic tutoring support. The goal of the program is to provide access to music education and to celebrate music through performance while supporting character development and social skills, and engaging the community in the process.

Students in the program receive daily music instruction, coaching and mentorship from a five-member team of faculty members and accomplished musicians in their own rights.  Students also benefit from a 25-member team of volunteer music mentors.  A 25-member volunteer Advisory Council also provides program support, along with an active group of community partners that includes the Somerville Arts Council, Conservatory Lab Charter School, Target Corporation, RISO Printing, Johnson String, Acoustic String of New England, New England Conservatory of Music, Longy School of Music, and Tufts University.

To volunteer as a music mentor or homework helper for El Sistema Somerville, contact Diane Cline at dcline@k21.somerville.ma.us or (617) 629-5400, x3716. For more information about El Sistema Somerville, visit http://www.sistemasomerville.org