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Grow Music celebrates another graduating senior! We have known Evan since they were in middle school and have enjoyed their contribution, musicality, and thoughtful curiosity with music, arranging, and creative expression. It's been wonderful to have Evan's support in Cello Mafia this semester, as well.  Below is a bit about Evan - we wish them the very best at MIT and wherever else the future leads to!
Evan Lofink is a 2023 graduating senior from Hellgate High School. They have been a longtime participating member of the Cello Mafia. Evan chose the cello in 5th grade because they liked the voice and versatility of the instrument. Since then, Evan has played in school orchestras, Cello Mafia, other student ensembles, Missoula Youth Symphony, and a small cover group that they helped create during junior year. Evan began mentoring for the Cello Mafia in order to share their interest in cover music with other cellists, as well as to support the group in a new way. Outside of cello, Evan’s interests include cross country running, hiking, drawing, playing piano, and STEM. Evan will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology next year, with plans to pursue a degree in Mathematics.
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Grow Music is so proud of this 2023 graduating senior!  JATAYO JONES Jatayo Jones began playing cello and taking lessons in 5th grade. He clearly loved music from the get-go and has been a steadfast, rising star ever since! Tayo has been section leader in both MYO & MYS (Missoula Youth Orchestra/Symphony) and has auditioned into the cello section of the MT All-State Orchestra for 4 years. He joined the Cello Mafia 6 years ago and has been a wonderful addition to the group since. Tayo's love and enthusiasm for the ensemble and the music has always been obvious and he very naturally transitioned from learner to leader. Tayo has been my main assistant with Cello Mafia for the last 2 years and has been a great support to the entire group. "Being able to {play and} teach through Cello Mafia has been a great experience because it first allowed me to get comfortable playing in groups and gave me the time and resources needed to feel comfortable playing my instrument. Because I was able to start teaching in Cello Mafia, I was then confident enough to teach private lessons of my own." - J. Jones His creativity, love, and community-minded approach to the arts doesn't stop there - Jatayo really enjoys theater! He recently finished stage directing for Sentinel High School's production of CLUE, and can be seen playing in the pit of MATILDA, produced by Missoula Children's Theater, Inc. Most recently, Tayo received the great news of being offered a full-tuition scholarship to attend music school at the University of Montana! He will be attending this Fall and studying cello with Dr. Adam Collins in the UM School of Music. I am thrilled at his accomplishments and am excited to see the fruits of his continued commitment to the arts. Go, Tayo! HEAR JATAYO PLAY!! THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 27th, JATAYO WILL BE PERFORMING ELGAR'S CELLO CONCERTO (1st Movement) with the Missoula Youth Symphony, directed by Mr. Ryan Davis. 7:30PM in the Hellgate High School Auditorium - free and open to the public. Not to be missed! Addie just found out she's going to YOLA National! She will be joining other youth from throughout the US in a 10-day intensive orchestra program, culminating in a performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall, conducted by Los Angeles Phil's Gustavo Dudamel. An intensive summer orchestra program with a focus on rigorous artistic development, the YOLA National Festival is for young musicians from Sistema-inspired programs and programs similarly invested in youth and community development through music. Musicians will convene in Los Angeles from July 7–July 16, 2023 for 10 days of learning with the festival’s amazing faculty, guest artists, and performances with world-renowned conductors.  Addie (14 yo) holding one of the audition excerpts. Her work, dedication, and positive attitude was awe-inspiring through this whole process. She wanted it and took the steps to get there. I couldn't be more proud of her. And I can't wait to see her on that stage!! Go, Adelaide! You have a team of cheer and support behind you.  The Los Angeles Philharmonic recently awarded GROW MUSIC MISSOULA with $5,000.00 as a part of Partners in Music Learning, a regranting initiative of the LA Phil’s YOLA National program, supporting creative youth development and music programs in regions across the U.S. Underwritten by an anonymous donor, this is the first regranting opportunity ever offered by the LA Philharmonic.
GROW MUSIC MISSOULA is one of 20 organizations across the U.S. to receive the Partners in Music Learning funding this year. Grant funds will support capacity building and programming, as well as increase youth access to music learning opportunities. This initiative will also build on a national music educator cohort, providing grantee organizations with a platform for shared learning and to support each other in deepening their existing programs and impact beyond the grant period. The program was itself built in consultation with leaders and stakeholders in the youth development and music education fields, including young people. Elsje Kibler-Vermaas, Vice President of Learning at the LA Phil, said, “It was important to us to design a democratic grantmaking process. As we developed Partners in Music Learning, we worked to consider the perspectives of those the program aims to serve and will provide a platform where all participants are learning from and alongside each other.” About YOLA National YOLA National is an outgrowth of the LA Phil’s YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles) program, Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel’s signature initiative. YOLA National includes the YOLA National Festival (an intensive summer learning program and top-tier ensemble) and the YOLA National Symposium (a convening of key stakeholders in El Sistema-inspired programs). Through its YOLA and YOLA National initiatives, the LA Phil aims to empower young people from populations that have been historically excluded from music training and to build a community of musicians and educators committed to social justice locally, nationally, and internationally. About the LA Phil Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multi-genre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and The Ford—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today. Meet Jayla Mitchell! Jayla is one of Grow Music's outstanding cello teaching artists. She has been teaching through Grow Music since Fall of 2021. In addition to working with a handful of private students, Jayla assists Jessica in leading the Cello Mafia. Jayla takes her role as a mentor seriously and thoughtfully. It is clear she loves music and all things cello! And she loves cats.  Here are some other fun facts about Jayla! >>> Tell us about how/when you decided to pursue music as a career. I made the decision to pursue a music career when applying to college. I had dedicated a lot of time to cello playing in high school and it just felt like what I was meant to do. Tell us about why you decided to become a teacher of music. I always knew I would fall into teaching at some point. I was surprised it happened so early in my career, but I’m really passionate about spreading the joy and fun of music and that’s what teaching music is all about! What do you enjoy most about teaching group classes? Teaching in group classes allows you to connect with so many young musicians at one time and the ultimate result of everybody’s hard work is very rewarding to see as a teacher. What about individual lessons? Teaching individual lessons allows you to connect with students in a more personal way. We get to work together at a student’s own pace and build strong working relationships. What is a memorable moment for you in your time at Grow Music? As a first year teacher, our Grow Music recital in May was an experience I’ll latch onto forever. Witnessing all of our young students putting themselves out of their comfort zones and performing music that they worked so hard and did so well on was very fulfilling. What is your favorite type of ensemble to play music with? I most enjoy working in string quartets and trios. It is a more personal working relationship than larger ensembles and gives you more freedom to make musical decisions. What is a piece of music that you think everyone should hear? I highly recommend Poeme for Cello and Orchestra by Henriette Bosmans. It’s one of my favorite pieces: What fun thing did you do last summer? This last summer, I attended Brevard Orchestral Institute in North Carolina. I got to play with faculty from across the country, world-renowned conductors, and perform amazing music like the Star Wars soundtrack! What non-musical things do you have interest in? Outside of my musical life, I like to hike, spend time with my cat, Winston, and I recently started learning how to climb! Thanks, Jayla! You're amazing and we love having you in the Grow Music family!  Bayley Ginnaty is Grow Music's Viola Teaching Artist and has been teaching with us since Fall of 2021. It has been a pleasure to get to know Bayley and watch her blossom into her role as a viola mentor. Her students clearly enjoy their time taking lessons with her and I've gotten to know Bayley and her fierce musical presence through multiple performance opportunities over the last several months! It's been great. Bayley has a kind, fun-loving soul and a great sense of humor. Read below to learn more about Bayley and what makes her tick! Tell us about the moment you decided to become a teacher… I knew that teaching would fall into my career somewhere, as I am pursuing my bachelors degree in Viola Performance. However, I didn't anticipate running into it so soon! During my freshman year of college in 2019, I held many viola sectionals as principal violist of the UM Symphony Orchestra. It was during a sectional with my peers, giving advice and guidance, that I knew that that kind of educational discussion was something that I found incredibly fulfilling and brought me immense joy! What do you like about teaching lessons? What I love most about teaching individual lessons is the relationship I am able to build with each young violist. I regularly think back to my experience as a young musician and how much admiration I have for those that taught me. Every student I have met learns, expresses, and shares their personality in a different way; I love figuring out how to be the best teacher for each student- it’s like solving a puzzle! What is a memorable moment for you in your time at Grow Music? One of my favorite memories from teaching at Grow Music is realizing that I have students who at one point knew nothing about music or the viola, and can now play their instrument, read music, and have found an entirely new way to express themselves! What kind of music do you like to play? Growing up as a violist, much of the music you are exposed to was originally written for a different instrument (like the violin or cello.) Throughout my collegiate study, I have loved diving deeper into the traditional viola repertoire! Playing music that was written for the viola, on the viola, always feels very special. What is a piece of music that you think everyone should hear? This is a contemporary piece for solo viola that I learned recently: “Perfect Storm”, by Shulamit Ran. This piece is so fun to listen to; each time you listen something else pokes out and grabs your attention! What non-musical things do you have interest in? I love to garden and cook! I have a plot in the ASUM Community Gardens and I love to get out in the dirt and grow, harvest, and preserve homegrown food. I also enjoy cross-stitching and hanging out with my kitty, Miso! I am convinced that I am a grandma living in a 20 year olds body. Anything else you'd like to share about yourself? I really want to learn how to fiddle. I think it would be a fun skill to pick up and I would love to raise my own little army of viola fiddlers!  Lydia Garrick is Grow Music's only graduating senior of 2022! Jessica and Lydia had their first cello lesson together when Lydia was in 5th grade. She's been a musical force ever since and an absolute joy to work with. Over the years, Lydia has proven herself to be a dedicated student, but also a great teacher of music; whether assisting with Cello Mafia or continuing to teach individual lessons through Grow Music. She has shown strong leadership and dedication to the instrument through her principal positions in Missoula Youth Symphony, sitting in the pit for multiple musical productions through Missoula Children's Theatre, Inc., and was recently handed the honor of principal cellist of the 2022 Montana All-State Orchestra. Lydia will be attending the University of Montana this Fall and though I am sad to see her go, she is definitely ready for her next chapter of life and I am so excited to see what unfolds for her! Continue reading to learn more about Lydia - Tell us about why you decided to play an instrument... I've always had a love for music, so when MCPS kids got to choose an instrument in 5th grade, I was over the moon! As far as why I picked the cello, what a beautiful instrument! The tone, the versatility, and the instrument itself looks gorgeous, even if it does mean lugging a big case wherever you go. What do you enjoy most about your music lessons? Sometimes lessons are as simple as getting good fingerings for a tricky section in ensemble music or working through a solo, but often lessons focus more on the musicality of a piece. With the adjustments I learn in lessons, I'm able to take those improvements and implement them in my outside practice, and gain confidence in my abilities. (Not to mention the many times the music studio time has become somewhat of a therapist's office to discuss big life choices.) What are some challenges about learning an instrument? How do you overcome those challenges? A lot of people that take up an instrument and are truly dedicated have much more than just their music studies going for them. Between sports and academics it can be a lot to juggle! In my life this has meant taking breaks and learning to say NO to some opportunities. It's important to push yourself, but just as important to know and respect your limits! What is a memorable moment for you in your time with Grow Music? Likely the most classic and infamous Cello Mafia arrangement, "Beat It" has a solo that gets tossed around year after year. Having played in Cello Mafia a number of years, I got to see many of my peers that I admired like Tait and Lillian rock the "Beat It" solo, so when I was asked to play it, it felt like a rite of passage. Tell us about some non-musical things that you have interest in... I've done Taekwondo for almost eleven years, and I'm passionate about science. Would you rather have wings or fins (and why)? I'd rather have wings! Underwater scares me... Anything else you'd like to share about yourself? This fall I will be studying pharmacy at the University of Montana, and minoring in music! I'm so glad to be able to continue my musical and educational journey in the community I have grown up in.
Hello friends - We are bringing back our Spotlights! It's been a while and we're sometimes not the loudest or most visible bunch, but we have been keeping the metronome clicking over here at Grow Music. I couldn't think of a better way to get these Spotlights back on track than with telling you all about ANNA! Anna Walter-Grussling is our lead teaching artist of all things violin. She has been teaching for Grow Music since 2018! Read about what makes Anna tick below ...  Tell us about the moment you decided to become a teacher…
I knew I wanted to be a teacher since I was in high school. That passion has grown into teaching music and Special Education. (In addition to Grow Music, Anna currently teaches in Special Education for the Bonner School District.) What do you enjoy most about teaching group classes? I love how every student brings something unique to the group. I enjoy seeing them learn from each other and form relationships over the course of the class. (Anna teaches Tiny Fiddlers, Little Fiddlers, Young Fiddlers, Viol Conspiracy, and assists with String Mafia. She will be leading the "Summer String Fling" this summer for violinists and viola players!) What about teaching individual lessons? I love seeing the students passion. Watching their dedication to their learning and seeing their growth each week is so pleasurable. What is a memorable moment for you in your time at Grow Music? I loved getting a chance to perform at Caras Park for Out to Lunch with Cello Mafia and Viol Conspiracy. (We get to do it AGAIN this summer! Yay!) What kind of music do you like to play? I enjoy fiddle and classical music. What non-musical things do you have interest in? I love houseplants and working on restoring a VW Bus with my husband. Thanks, Anna! Anna has been a huge addition to our little music school. She is a warm and dedicated teacher and we are lucky to work alongside her! Laura Geier is a fantastic fiddle player and teacher - her styles and talents are wide and colorful. Laura has been the recipient of various distinguished grants and scholarships to study fiddle abroad in places like Bulgaria, Sweden, Romania, and Moldova...she teaches the real deal! She is currently accepting weekly, monthly, or supplementary students via Zoom through Grow Music! Here is a little taste of what she offers: Tait started cello with Jessica when he was in 5th grade. Now he's getting ready to move into his college years and it certainly feels bittersweet. I am so proud of what he has accomplished in these years! And feeling grateful that I've gotten to work with such a talented, hard-working, and all around excellent human. Check out his recital here: Nadia Boulanger - Trois PiecesJohann Sebastian Bach - Prelude & Minuets from Suite No. 1 in G MajorCello Mafia Mini play Beatles & Leonard Cohen We may be closing in and shutting down, but that doesn't mean we need to limit the ways we bring joy, smiles, engagement, and the gift of music to help fare these turbulent times! Grow Music is taking this opportunity to welcome several amazing and professional teaching artists to our roster! We can now happily offer an array of private lessons - in multiple styles and genres - for students of violin, fiddle, viola, and cello. Our teachers teach through an online platform, which allows Grow Music to employ professional musicians from around the globe and bring them straight to you! We see it as a WIN-WIN ... we are able to provide work to keep our artists working in these crazy times AND we can provide TOP NOTCH instruction to our wonderful students! Contact us for information or check out some impressive bios here.
I was simply amazed at the fruits of all the hard work and dedication these young musicians put forth. First time performers, seasoned rockers, inspiring family bands...I don't have many words except, "WOW - that was super awesome!" Congrats to each and every one of you. All you hard work and dedication is amazing. Take a look at a few great images - thanks to Benji Hegg, Libby Catron-Gingerelli, and Amelia Thornton! The intermediate Cello Mafia class (ages 10-14) performed at Meadow Hill Middle School on Wed 2/5/20. They, along with the Viol Conspiracy, were invited to join the concert with Southside Symphony. I unfortunately don't have video of Viol Conspiracy rocking "Hand Clap" by Fitz & the Tantrums, or both groups playing "I Love Rock & Roll" by Joan Jett, but here is "Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish! All arrangements are made specifically for these groups. Check it out! *Thanks Maggie W. for the video. A little blast from my past surprised me today! It was FUN to see this. I got to play with FUN! That's my back on cello. This was my life in Los Angeles... FUN fact: My 1st son was just 7 months old and I brought him with me to this session! Why is this relevant? Well, I've been updating my arrangement of FUN's incredible song "Some Nights" for the Cello Mafia to play this semester. We recorded that song with them on this iTunes session, too! Check it out here (links to where you can hear it):  The Top Hat performance on Friday 11/22/19 was a highlight of my teaching year, for sure! Each of the 19 cellists shone brightly during our 2-hour long (!!) performance. I am so proud of these kids' hard work and dedication. Here are some choice pics from the night...(thanks, Janet M. and Bill R.!) The next round of Cello Mafia classes are now posted and open for registration!
New tunes, new ensembles, new friends, lots of fun. CLASSES PAGE  A big shout out and thanks to Katherine Porter at the Play Network of Missoula for having us! Jessica enjoyed giving a Tiny Fiddlers demo class to our youngest friends. We had a blast! Here are some fun shots from the day.  This crew of amazing young cellists take center stage for Family Friendly Friday at the Top Hat on Friday, November 22nd. 6-8pm, free all ages show. We have some fresh new songs and will be pulling out our favorite classics to share! We will see you there!  What a magical and beautiful night it was in the Enchanted Forest, a fundraiser for Turning the Wheel. We were honored to be a part of the event! Thank you for having us!    New class offerings to enrich students interested in new music and healthy performance practices!
First, a brand new class called "Music & Movement" that encompasses movement, yoga, stretching, and performance techniques. It looks great and will be happening on Saturday mornings. This class is a collaboration of movement specialist, Laurel Sears, and violinist/educator, Amelia Thornton. Check it out here: www.artworkstrings.com/electives >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Secondly, the next round of the "Creative Music Ensemble" is currently enrolling. This class is a collaboration of Naomi Siegel and Wave & Circuit here in Missoula. It draws from Jazz, Afro-Cuban music and other improvised music traditions to develop rhythm/groove, listening, interacting, dynamics, theory, and phrasing. Check this class out here: http://lakebottomsound.org/workshops Cello Mafia performs our arrangement of Joan Jett's "I Love Rock n'Roll." We claim no rights to this song, but we sure do like it!
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