In Aurora, Illinois, “Waubonsie Valley Fine Arts Department Chairman Mark Duker can’t wait to hear what ideas his students have for sharing their music talent to under-served populations in the community,” writes Suzanne Baker in Wednesday’s (2/28) Naperville Sun (Illinois). “On Tuesday more than 400 Waubonsie students listened as Los Angeles Philharmonic violinist Vijay Gupta talked about how his Street Symphony program brings hope to impoverished and incarcerated populations in the Los Angeles area…. One of the most important places for Gupta to perform is in the unserved and disenfranchised part of Los Angeles known as Skid Row, … ‘where 60,000 people experience chronic homelessness, with thousands of people living in tents literally on the sidewalk,’ he said…. Gupta said engagement is a two-way street where the audiences change the musicians…. Gupta said high school students are under tremendous pressure to earn top grades so they can get into the best colleges. ‘You are already enough,’ he said. ‘The life that you care about, the things you want to bring into the world, the elements you believe in—they’re already there. You need to do what makes you leap out of bed in the morning.’ ” On June 13, 2018, Gupta will deliver the opening keynote address at the League of American Orchestras’ National Conference. Learn more here.
Posted March 6, 2018
