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October 2009

Many of you are aware of how important our work with incarcerated teenagers is to me, to the Sarasa musicians, and to the kids and staff at the facilities we visit. But we always feel that it is not enough. How often we get feedback like this: “ The only request I have is for you guys to come back because I think all the residents and staff enjoyed the performances and other activities as well.” (Willgen, a resident at Worcester Secure Treatment)

We are trying to address this in several ways. We hope to raise enough funds to experiment with a more ongoing relationship in an expanded residency at one facility, where we will focus on group singing and percussion in the course of eight visits instead of the current three. Of course this will only benefit a small number of teenagers- but perhaps in life-changing ways! Willgen also had this to say: “Being in DYS for a long time, I have never seen a group or somebody to take their time to perform and let us participate in a musical activity”.

You can’t imagine how even a one-hour performance by a visiting group lifts the spirits and opens the eyes of these teenagers. We also want to bring many more accomplished young musicians, under the umbrella of Sarasa, into these facilities, as we did on a small scale last season. Students from the New England Conservatory Opera Workshop performed opera excerpts in a Dorchester facility. By the time we left, the surly, cynical, hopeless attitude of the guys had been replaced by such a buzz of excitement and hand-shaking all around that you knew it would give them something to talk about and think about for several days.

Sarasa is very lucky to have received funding from the Amelia Peabody Foundation and the Kalliopeia Foundation for outreach residencies and concerts, and from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for organizational support. But the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services runs 96 programs. Bringing music into these facilities is not a DYS priority even though most of the kids live for their music. Perhaps you could help Sarasa with a donation so we can bring more music to more kids. Thanks so much for your past generosity and support of Sarasa. I look forward to seeing you at our concerts and hope you will bring some friends along!

September 5, 2006

Of our Bach Cantata CD, the Boston Globe was quoted saying: "Labelle and Sylvan . . . both perform with their customary beautiful tone, scrupulous musicianship, and verbal communicativeness". The CD is available from our website, www.sarasamusic.org, in stores, or as a download from www.magnatune.com.

As we look into the upcoming year, we reflect on our outreach programs that have been highly successful and have recently gained some significant recognition. Sarasa was honored with an article in the Boston Globe which you can also read on our website.

Sarasa has also been invited to participate in a Chamber Music America conference this fall where we will be presenting our perspectives on successful outreach collaborations, specifically discussing our ongoing work with teenagers in the care of the Department of Youth Services.

Although we did not receive our anticipated increased granting towards outreach this year, we are hoping to expand our efforts in this area. We are extremely grateful to the Kalliopeia Foundation for their consistent support of our existing outreach programs. Anyone interested in sponsoring (by way of a tax-deductible contribution) an outreach ($1,200) or residency ($3,000) program would be providing an immeasurable service to the underserved youth we work with.

"Your performance was mad good. I appreciate you taken the time out to come here and play. It was mad different from what I'm used to. I seen your paper (Sarasa brochure) and if I had 5 g's it would be all yours." -Rob, Westboro Reception Unit, April 2005

April 6, 2005

*Grants received: This year the Kalliopeia Foundation renewed its grant of $20,000 for our work in correctional facilities. This includes nine outreach concerts and three three-week residencies. The Ben E. Factors Foundation, a family fund, also generously gave Sarasa grant allowing it to bring short opera programs in our outreach programs for incarcerated teens.

*Newsletter: Read our April 2005 newsletter (PDF format) to see what Sarasa has accomplished in the past year.

*Sarasa on radio: A preview of excerpts of our April 23 & 24 concert with Michael Chance [Details] was broadcast at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 on WGBH radio 89.7 FM.

*CD release update: The release of Sarasa's Bach Cantatas CD's has been delayed until summer/fall of this year due to high costs of having to force a second recording session. [More info...]

*Craigie Street Bistrot has a bonus for the Sarasa community. Located just six minutes from Harvard Sq. (5 Craigie Circle) stop by before or after a Sarasa concert for a prix fixe $29.99 dinner. Mention Sarasa and receive a complementary glass of wine with your meal.

August 2004

Sarasa was recently received a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council for Organizational Support, in the amount of $2,350 for the next 3 years. Sarasa was also rated number 3 by a peer group of the Massachusetts Cultural Council in the "Chamber Music Category," with high marks especially for quality of music and community service.

May 2003

The Sarasa Ensemble just completed the three-week residency at the Northeastern Family Center. Letters sent to Sarasa from the participants.

April 2003

Some of the musicians in the Sarasa Ensemble are about to begin a three-week pilot residency in a teenage correctional facility for girls in Dorchester. We hope to create a composition during these three weeks that we will record at the end of our residency.

March 2003

Sarasa performed for the Brighton Treatment Center in Brighton, MA. Audience members sent these letters to Sarasa. More letters sent to Sarasa from audiences at its outreach concerts.

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