Leticia Callela-Austin & El Sereno Middle School Advanced Strings – 10 Hour Bach Marathon at Union Station
ADDRESS
Union Station, North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA, USAADDRESS DETAILS
East PortalTIME
March 24, 20181:20 PM - 1:55 PM
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PERFORMANCE
INSTRUMENT
Bachground: My name is Leticia Callela-Austin, I am a violinist, mariachi performer and music educator at El Sereno Middle School, and I too, am in love with Bach!
Thinking Bach: I was introduced as an elementary violin student to Bach’s music through Suzuki renditions taught by my music teacher, Mr. Gustafson. I had never heard of a Gavotte or a Bourrée. The most I had heard about classical music up until 4th grade was ballets and symphonies. I still play violin – 28 years later!
During my musical training, I was fortunate enough to meet some incredible teachers and musicians who opened my heart and ears to Bach’s music. While studying during my undergraduate years at California Institute of the Arts, I was introduced to the Sonatas and Partitas for violin. I had never heard such beautiful music performed for solo violin. It was then that I finally came to the realization that Bach’s music encompasses so much – love, freedom, poetry, and longing. When I arrived at El Sereno Middle School, I was so happy to be back! I was a former student of the school and had participated in their Symphony Orchestra. My students were in shock to learn of my positive experience with music at the middle school level.
BitS LA Impact: I wanted to see if I could have my students play a Bach piece and had them attempt to read through it. They did not know quite what to make of it. Being so engrossed in the pop music of today, the students could not make it through the first few measures. They were more accustomed to learning pop orchestral music or film music, but not proper classical pieces. It has taken almost one year of work, and we finally arrived. The students were happy to get a few pieces this year that were not only written by Bach himself, but in homage to him.
I hope you all can come out and enjoy this amazing endeavor by Bach in the Subways and support LAUSD by stopping by and watching the Advanced String Orchestra from El Sereno Middle School!