Crown Point Alumni Return to Run Free After-School Violin Camp
Everyone can identify teachers who made a difference in their lives. Mission Bay High School senior Stephanie Zavala can see a clear connection between her elementary days and the person she is today.
“[Crown Point Junior Music Academy] taught me the importance of music education,” she says, fondly remembering learning violin with Stephen Luchs in the Suzuki program during her years there. Since then, her educational journey has taken her through Pacific Beach Middle School, where she took three years of music classes with John O’Donnell, and on to JP Balmat's music program at Mission Bay High, where Zavala has played in the orchestra for four years and the jazz ensemble for three.
Looking to give back to her school community, and to honor the legacy of Mr. Luchs, who passed away in April, this fall Zavala created an After-School Violin Workshop. She recruited fellow Mission Bay students who were also alumni of Crown Point and Mr. Luchs to help lead the program, and on September 12-16, CPJMA violin students were invited to kick off the school year by developing their violin skills in a small and welcoming environment.
Offered for two hours after school for a whole week, each day had three interactive learning sessions, including violin instruction, music theory, ballroom dancing, and music-themed visual art. One day also featured a short concert from San Diego Symphony Orchestra violinist Julia Pautz.
Teaching the Suzuki violin songs that were taught to them as children resonated with several of the student volunteers, bringing their music education full-circle. “It's amazing that I was able to share this with other students,” says Zavala. “It was even more amazing to teach the Suzuki songs that Mr. Luchs taught to us as children, to the new generation of violinists.”
In addition to Zavala, who organized and ran the entire camp, a team of seven other Mission Bay musicians assisted with the teaching: Aribella Brushie, Ciara Ascherfield, Ian Steinberger, Jacob Mandel, Andrea Tadeo, Sarah Farid, and Rachel Martinez. They were all impacted by the experience and hope this is the start of an annual community service event.
"The eager-to-learn students made the experience even more memorable,” says student volunteer Rachel Martinez. “If I was given another opportunity to come back I'd definitely want to return to teach them.” Volunteer Aribella Brushie adds, “It was a joy getting to work with the students and helping them better understand music! Loved all the enthusiasm the kids had for learning and watching them improve within the week was amazing! Hope to do it again!”
Perhaps this is the start of a beautiful partnership.
