Jin Hi Kim Residency at Connecticut Mental Health Center
In the past, as part of the Music Alive Composer-in-Residence program, the NHSO has partnered with schools such as Wintergreen Magnet in Hamden and St. Martin de Porres in New Haven, to bring Jin Hi Kim and her Music and Meditation program to students. Ms. Kim, a recent MacArthur Award recipient, melds Korean and Western musical idioms in her compositions, and works with students blending hands-on musical performance with Korean meditative practice. Several weeks ago, the NHSO brought Ms. Kim to the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) to work with in-patients and the results were very positive and gratifying for Ms. Kim and for the NHSO. Below is a letter written by one of those at CMHC Ms. Kim had the pleasure to have worked with.
“I am in the current class at CMHC. I have only occasionally listened to music and it has not been a part of my life. I did try to learn music but I had difficulty learning to read music and keeping the pace with those around me. I have never felt comfortable making loud sounds or anything that might draw attention to me. I have been very timid around instruments. To others I may be calm and relaxed but I find this very difficult.
You have shown me that I am able start where I am and make progress. This is very nice. I found the meditation, chanting and your other instruction soothing and calming. The music absolutely amazing. I feel enriched to be having this experience. Several of the students in our group and I work together to find peace and harmony in life. I wish that there was a way for you to continue with us. Perhaps, I speak in advance of others and perhaps it would be more appropriate to say I wish that there was a way that I could continue to learn from you.
I know you must be very busy. I work with so many people that would benefit from what you have taught us. Today after our class I was so happy and yet so sad. I REALLY did not want to stop!
Do you ever taken on totally non-experienced students? Do you have any other on-going groups? Are there other ways that we can continue to learn from you and I don’t want to let go of these experiences.
Thank you again so much for providing this opportunity.”
A Young Composer Shares His Experience
The NHSO has been facilitating a Young Composers’ Project since last season with Music Alive Composer-in-Residence Augusta Read Thomas. Ten promising high school composers have been working with Ms. Thomas to hone their craft. The program culminates on May 15, 2011 with a performance of their works by NHSO musicians. The following is written by participant Daniel Zlatkin and how the program has affected his present and his future.
A few sentences cannot convey the tremendous effect, on a young musician’s life, of having a mentor such as composer Augusta Read Thomas. Having such a wonderful mentor has been a highlight of my past year, and something I think can really change the lives of people like me.
My intellectual friendship with this teacher has been life changing to me, since so much of the hard work that goes into becoming a performing musician and composer is quite solitary. Before I met Ms. Thomas, and was lucky enough to be selected for the Young Composer’s program, not many classmates in high school –or for that matter, other adults – were interested in talking to me about modern classical music. It is hard to understand for a lot of people. In the same way, many visual artists through history were not well understood when they were first creating their work.
I am extremely grateful to work with and learn from a world-class composer. Without her encouragement, and her willingness to be available almost always to answer my many questions, I don’t think I would be on the path I am now. I hope that is the path to becoming an insightful, and thoughtful professional musician and composer. She is one of the best teachers I’ve had – she has real insight, is always cheerful, but gives me seriously challenging guidance.
As a mentor, she has been enthusiastic, and gave me the feeling she cared about my work. We’ve discussed many types of music, working through an extensive listening list. As a result, I’ve broadened my musical horizons and compositional awareness, and am much better able to express my compositional ideas in a coherent way.
Augusta with the young composers. Daniel Zlatkin is the first on the right
