LSU offers summer music classes for low-income minority youth as well as free concerts for the community

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – Music is a powerful form of communication that can bring people together.

Art builds bridges between people by creating empathy. When you read a book, you literally put yourself in someone else’s shoes, and more often than not, those characters are very different from us. music does the same.

Ana Maria Otamendi, Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano at LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts

Ana Maria Otamendi, Associate Professor of Collaborative Piano at the LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts, said, “We can all be united by the feeling that music wells up within each of us, as our pain, love and longing often are The same thing.”

But problems of money and environment can prevent musicians from taking lessons or accessing resources. A $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts will help. LSU is using the funds to host a summer lecture series June 4-24.

The program benefits minorities and low-income musicians. The eight guest teachers are experienced musicians and identify as Black or Indigenous People of Color. You will lead more than 70 lectures, discussions, master classes and live performances. Students from all over the world receive private lessons and ensemble coaching sessions.

Summer program to inspire aspiring musicians

Elena Lacheva, professional-in-residence at LSU College of Music and Dramatic Arts, said this program is important to people from all walks of life.

“Is it the cultural background that brings these challenges? I don’t think so.” Lacheva said, “I think it’s the socio-economic environment that predicts whether resources will be available to an aspiring musician or not. Simply put, without sponsored music programs in schools to introduce and encourage music making from an early age, it is a family’s financial situation that will challenge learning and growing in the craft.”

Otamendi added that the Collaborative Piano Institute will provide scholarships to some low-income candidates. This financial support is provided “so that they can not only learn and explore the minds of professional musicians through lessons and conversations, but also be inspired to imagine the role music will play in their lives.”

Otamendi and Lacheva started their musical journey at the age of 5. Over the years they have seen how music can enrich life.

“Music is a carnival parade, a breakup, Christmas on the radio in October, prom night, commute, father and bride dance, coffee break, anniversary dinner, horror movie jump cut, lullaby, communion, suffrage, belonging,” Lacheva said. “For every emotion there is a sound, and when organized and shared, it electrifies life. Take away the music and the deafening silence will break our fragile humanity.”

LSU guest musicians perform live at free events

This June, the free Starry Nights Concert Series will be available to the community. The concerts will be held in the LSU School of Music Recital Hall on Dalrymple and Infirmary Drive. Exact dates and times will be available on www.collaborativepianoinstitute.org in May.

See the following document for BRProud’s full interview with Otamendi and Lacheva.