Dwayne Burrell leads a string orchestra for young musicians at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Anaheim, California. Photo by AP/William Liang.
In Tuesday’s (12/3) Associated Press, Deepa Bharath writes, “New Hope Presbyterian Church, a multiethnic congregation led by a Black female pastor in Anaheim, California, started a string orchestra in April, welcoming students, including those who may have trouble getting into and paying for music programs. It’s located in Orange County, which is largely affluent. The Rev. Chineta Goodjoin said her church had a smaller strings program for several years. When Goodjoin’s daughter Nyla started playing violin with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, founded in June 2009 by renowned conductor Charles Dickerson, the pastor grew determined to replicate the concept in Orange County with Dickerson taking the lead. The church’s orchestra now has about 18 members ranging in age from 9 to 20, playing violin, viola, bass and cello. The orchestra accepts all students without auditions, and it’s free. Like the Los Angeles group, the orchestra is also powered by mentors who look like the young musicians they help guide.” Student musician Giovanni Vazquez said, “They encourage young musicians of color and everyone gets a chance to play and maybe use it as a stepping stone to get better or even turn this into a career.”
