Monument Valley

Reblogged from ETHEL's Blog

September 14-20, 2009 marked ETHEL's fifth year as resident quartet for the Grand Canyon Music Festival's Native American Composer Apprentice Project (NACAP). Annual participation in NACAP is some of our most meaningful and satisfying work. We'd love to share with you a little bit about what we do here:

As resident quartet, we spend five days (Monday-Friday) visiting schools in the Navajo and Hopi Nations. We play short concerts and work with student composers on their pieces. At the end of the week (Sunday), we premiere all of the student compositions at the Grand Canyon, as part of the Grand Canyon Music Festival. The final concert is open to the general public, and is always extremely well attended. This year we had 22 young composers from Monument Valley High School, Chinle High School, Hopi High School, Whitehorse High School, and Tuba City High School.

When we arrive at the schools, the students have already prepared scores and parts, with the help of resident composers Raven Chacon and Michael Begay. In our workshopping sessions we help to clarify the students' musical intentions and refine their notational skills. How deeply rewarding it is to see satisfaction and empowerment on the faces of these fine young artists when their musical ideas come to life! Every year we feel transformed by our time here.

We thank GCMF directors Clare Hoffman and Robert Bonfiglio, resident composers Raven Chacon and Michael Begay, all of the school music teachers who make this possible, and all of our 2009 composers (listed below).

Corey Young, Monument Valley High School
Sharmita Benally, Whitehorse High School
Danielle Tracey, Chinle High School
Skyler Madison, Whitehorse High School
Russell Goodluck, Chinle High School
Matthew Blackhorse, Monument Valley High School
Kassie Talashoma, Hopi High School
Devon Bilagody, Tuba City High School
Ada Joseph, Hopi High School
Christian Kee, Chinle High School
Stenson Osif, Monument Valley High School
Sarah McCarl, Whitehorse High School
Christen Braidhair, Chinle High School
Nizhoni Spencer, Whitehorse High School
Stephanelle Mutz, Hopi High School
Akira Tsosie, Monument Valley High School
Adam Braxton, Chinle High School
Landrick Black, Tuba City High School
Malcolm Mowa, Hopi High School
Celeste Lansing, Whitehorse High School
Rholanial Charleston, Tuba City High School
Kevin Mitchell, Chinle High Schoo

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In other ETHEL news... tonight Santa Fe New Music presents us at the New Mexico History Museum Auditorium at 7PM. Tomorrow we're coming home to NYC!!

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