One thing many people dont know about the 麻豆传媒映画Academy of Music, says its newly appointed executive director, is that it has roots in social justice and philanthropy.
When the non-profit academy was founded in 1969 as the Community Music School, it was modeled after projects in Philadelphia and New York that focussed on spreading music education to the masses.
Thats something we need to do a better job of promoting: that we are a very inclusive institution that stresses the importance of arts and music to a wide base of students from many different backgrounds, Joseph Elworthy told Westside.
In August, Elworthy officially replaced the academys outgoing music director, Jerold Gerbrecht, who led the organization for 38 years. Since his appointment, Elworthy has been hard at work rolling out new programs to highlight the schools inclusivity.
Among them is an initiative that delivers VAM teachers into pre-schools that dont have a music curriculum, at no cost to the schools or parents. These are highly trained teachers using a proven early childhood education method that combines music and physical motion, Elworthy says. Its very successful with engaging children.
Basic, fundamental early music education is a cornerstone for Elworthy, who began his celebrated career as a concert cellist as a four-year-old at VAM in 1977. His career would eventually take him to Juilliard, Yale University and Carnegie Hall, but he always hoped to return to the academy where he got his start.
Its a place I felt that I owed a lot of my success to, Elworthy said. Even with this desire, it seemed so improbable that I would return but it was one of the most important decisions of my life.
He returned to 麻豆传媒映画from New York in 2001 and has been a fixture of the local music community since, as a member of the 麻豆传媒映画Symphony Orchestra and head of the VAM cello program. Now, as executive director, Elworthy says he has come full circle.
Ive experienced the academy as a student, a faculty member, a parent of two daughters who attend, and now as executive director, he said.
The ultimate compliment I receive from parents is when they say, We can sense that this school is important to you.
Elworthys other initiatives include establishing a partnership with Bard on the Beach that would integrate a music component into the Shakespeare companys 2012 summer programs, and linking VAM with his old alma maters Juilliard and Yale.
Elworthy also hopes the school can tap into Vancouvers amateur music scene, and has launched a new adult learning program with that in mind.
Its affordable and accessible for the adult amateur community and I use the word amateur lightly, some of these people were very well trained in their formative years, Elworthy said. But this allows them access to our highly trained faculty, many of whom have experience as master class instructors.
The focus on inclusiveness already appears to be paying off, too. Since Elworthy was appointed acting executive director in February, enrollment is up almost 20 per cent something that flies in the face of what Elworthy calls a persistent myth about the academy.
The myth is that its impossible to get into the school, that theres a waiting list years long and you have to sign your child up in the delivery ward, he said. I think we have dispelled this.
