Dear friends,
I’ve always believed, the more you learn about People’s, the more there is to love! Inspired by more letters we uncovered from Rita’s archives, here’s a throwback update:
THANK YOU to those friends who have provided much needed scholarships (894 of you, from Lincoln Park to Park Ridge, Singapore to Boston!) It gives deep joy to tell a family they are off our waiting list. After 50 years, the Village Music Store in Deerfield closed its doors, and generously donated remaining instruments and supplies. Many more friends offered their time and experience to mentor our SLAM high school students after our first ever college panel (Thank you Northwestern, Case Western, Grinnell, and more!)
We continue to make magic with our students. Maria R. is still on Cloud 9 after our “life-changing” collaboration with her flute idol Claire Chase and Project& PAN (The audience at Garfield Park included the Mayor and First Lady!) Guitarist Brian B. and violist Elaina H. were named Chicago Rising Stars by the city/DCASE. And we are so excited to see the H. family back after a difficult set of personal and medical issues kept them homebound on the far South Side.
Our team keeps showing up STRONG. We welcomed 4 beautiful babies through our staff this year (and four maternity leaves on our small team!) Our fierce Board of Directors is leading our post-2020 strategy process as we near our goals of serving 1,000 students and achieving national recognition for excellence and evaluation.
As Rita would say, “While one must be grateful for special gifts, it is important to know they are given so that they can be shared.” Please help us share and sustain Rita’s noble dream “where children discover their self-worth and reach their full potential through music” so that one day, these children may share their gifts with you and the world.
Sending all our best, on behalf of the People,
Jennifer Kim-Matsuzawa, President & Artistic Director