MEET THE KIDS whose lives have changed!

Oakland East Bay Symphony’s education programs are making a difference in the lives of children throughout the East Bay, allowing them to experience the joy of artistic expression and creativity, and providing a sense of self and place in the community. 

Here are just a few of the students whose lives have been changed:   

Danielle is an African American student who started music in the 4^th grade violin class at Sobrante Park Elementary School on instruments purchased by the Symphony.  She showed great potential and with family support, additional instruction and guidance provided by our MUSE Program, has excelled musically and academically.  Danielle is now a leader at San Domenico School, where she is a student on full scholarship, and at the Oakland Youth Orchestra where she will soon be featured soloist in a performance of the fourth Brandenburg Concerto.      

Abagail is a gifted Hispanic student at Oakland’s Roosevelt Middle School, where she receives violin lessons from OEBS musician-mentor Candace Sanderson. Abagail is now Concertmaster of the Roosevelt Orchestra.  She also received a MUSE Program Scholarship to Cazedero Music Camp last summer and maintains a 4.0 grade average.

Juan is a 14-year old student in Roosevelt’s Brass Class who comes from a recently arrived immigrant family. He is a talented tuba player who receives in-class instruction from one of our MUSE musician-mentors, and is showing great promise.

Cedric is a multi-talented 13-year-old African American now attending the Oakland School for the Arts.  Currently in the ninth grade, he has been assisted by the MUSE Program since the sixth grade at Roosevelt Middle School. He plays cello, the piano, and composes.  Cedric has received cello lessons from Elizabeth Struble (MUSE mentor) at Roosevelt and piano lessons from Louise Correia – the School District’s Classroom Music Teacher  - and Bud Cropsey, OEBS Board Member.  Cedric was recently accepted to the Young Musicians Program at U. C. Berkeley.

The Symphony’s education programs have clearly touched the lives of these students, all of whom come from families that could otherwise not afford private lessons and tuition. And there are many more – more than 25,000 children participate in at least one Symphony program.