Being in this community has been a dream come true for me. I have learned so much from the teachers, the staff, the students, and from all of you. I feel so incredibly lucky to have been given this opportunity and so happy to come to work every day with the best music students in the world. I truly believe it when I say that there is no better place to be a music teacher.

Now I must hand this opportunity on so that the program can grow in new directions and so that I can take a step back from leadership for a while. At my heart, I am a musician, a writer and a teacher, and those are the processes I need to be engaged in right now, 100% of the time. In addition, I've been feeling the pull to leave the country again and return to one of my favorite parts of the world, South America.

I will be telling your children today, and I will do my best to keep my cool! The most important thing to know is that they couldn't be in better hands. This team of Resident Artists is an incredible one, and a group of them is preparing to take over the leadership. We also look forward to welcoming additional Resident Artists as our school expands.

Please get in touch with me if you have any questions at all, and please know that I will do my best to make this transition as seamless as possible. Change can be hard, but change is good, and although I anticipate that I will shed many tears before leaving you all, I know that it is the right decision.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for welcoming me into your community. And thank you, above all, for giving me the privilege of working with your incredible children.

There may be snow on the sidewalks but our hallways are filled with Spring Fling Fever!  Our teachers and students are buzzing with enthusiasm and plans.  Special rehearsals took place on Thursday to prepare for playing as one united orchestra, a feat never before attempted!  Just like during the El Sistema Clinic last month, the students were organized by instrument across all orchestras so the young ones could learn from their more experienced classmates and so the whole group could practice playing as one cohesive section.  One big difference in these rehearsals, however, was the goal of the work: we've got a performance coming up and we all want to sound our best.  The focus and concentration was palpable in every room.  Mr. Anantawan made the rounds of all the sections, conducting each group and making notes and suggestions.  The orchestras can't wait to all be on that stage together to show you what they can do!

Our Parent Advisory Council seems to have caught the Spring Fling Fever as well.  At the monthly meeting on Wednesday, after an update from Head of School, Diana Lam on plans for the expansion, parents Beth Greene and Casimir Deronette shared the behind-the-scenes planning for April 7th.  Last year, over 50 parents volunteered to help either beforehand or on the day.  We hope to break that record and we are well on our way.  There are all kinds of ways to help so please, if you are able to give a little extra time, get in touch with Beth, beth.greene@comcast.net or Casimir, cderonette@gmail.com and they will put you on the schedule.  If we all help a little bit, the day is sure to run smoothly and will be a great showcase of student learning.

Right now, the most important way families can help is by buying your own tickets and encouraging your friends and families to do the same.  Remember, this year tickets are for specific seats so be sure to reserve yours early to get the best seats.  Since all students will be performing this year, you do not need to buy tickets for them and all children under 5 are free.  Go to Brown Paper Tickets to get yours today and invite your friends via Facebook and Twitter!  

If you cannot purchase your tickets via the web, we have some tickets available for sale at school.  Please contact Toni Jackson, tjackson@conservatorylab.org.

We've got 1200 seats to fill.  Let's sell out the house!