Since 2013, Wayne Presbyterian Church has supported music education for the students of S. Weir Mitchell Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia where there had been no school district music teacher for its 550 Kindergarten–8th-grade students. Inspired by the El Sistema program of Venezuela and the Play on Philly! movement, two of the church’s volunteers vowed that Mitchell would have a music program. With the combined efforts of these volunteers and former principal Cheryl Hackett, they hired a music teacher who began providing violin lessons to a small group of third-grade students. Initially, the members of Wayne Presbyterian funded this new music program. However, just as music can transform our lives, the program itself evolved. As a way to support this mission, Joseph Kauffman and Yoni Draiblate founded Music Transforms. In the fall of 2015, Branford Marsalis graciously offered to perform as the opening concert of the 2015-16 Music Transforms series. Simultaneously, Minister of Music Tim Evers formed a board to support concert production. Members included: Jane Beatty, Dawn Coradino, Yoni Draiblate, Rita Fisk, Jeanne Kauffman, Joe Kauffman, and John Kauffman. This board continues to organize and promote the Music Transforms concerts under the leadership of Associate Minister of Music, James Gerber and Music Ministry Intern, Matt Lista.
In the fall of 2018, the program expanded into additional venues in Southwest Philadelphia thanks to the generosity of a Wayne Presbyterian Church member who donated $300,000 to fund the development of an orchestra at The Common Place over the next four years (2018–2022). A second board was formed to lead this expansion, comprised of Jane Beatty, Tim Evers, Chris Holland, Joe Kauffman, and Tim Zaro. The Common Place Orchestra follows the model of the Philadelphia Orchestra, serving as the umbrella organization as it provides music instruction at multiple schools in Southwest Philadelphia. In the fall of 2018, a Program Director and three Teaching Artists were hired to support a music module that was added to the After School Program at The Common Place. The module provides music education and string instrument instruction to all children in the program. In January of 2019, day time music lessons began to be offered to interested students at Cornerstone Christian Academy. As summer approaches, The Common Place is developing a summer camp offering which will include music instruction as part of its day time offerings. The goal is to formally launch The Common Place Orchestra with ensemble practice and performance in the fall of 2019 including additional student participation from area schools and the neighborhood. Also, The Common Place Orchestra is beginning conversations to offer day time string lessons at a third neighborhood school, Independence Charter West. Music Transforms is developing its concert offerings for 2019-20 and will continue to subsidize The Common Place Orchestra as it evolves over the next three years. Your support both in prayer and generosity is most appreciated as this ministry program continues to grow.
Tim Evers
Minister of Music- Wayne Presbyterian Church
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”21″ gal_title=”MILP”]