Music Lessons for Vulnerable Communities!

Just last month, MFW founders, Jesus Saenz and Kelley McGarry, traveled from New York to Peru with the great honor of performing as soloists with the Arequipa Symphony. Because of their great passion for globally sharing music with aspiring musicians, they set out to plan various masterclasses and educational activities with students across both Lima and Arequipa. These classes were of course offered in the traditional style of MFW: completely free of charge with all welcome! In Arequipa, each founder worked closely in detail with students from El Sillar Youth Orchestra, leading their ensemble in a riveting rendition of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. The young soloists and accompanying orchestra responded beautifully and energetically to the musical advice offered! Each founder also provided masterclasses for the students of Escuela Superior de Música Dunker Lavalle and Universidad Nacional San Agustín. In these masterclasses, students had the opportunity to perform, receive feedback, and engage in important musical dialog. Important subjects were discussed in these classes such as confidence, inner-voice, stage presence, managing nerves, and the importance of taking up space, among others. Kelley and Jesus finished their Peruvian trip by flying back to Lima and visiting Los Violines de San Juan, a violin ensemble created in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Lima. A masterclass was held and there was a sense of overwhelming joy to see how much the young musicians had grown (both musically and physically!) since MFW Festival 2022!

MFW was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic and, since then, we have been virtually engaging with hundreds of aspiring musicians. The power of the internet has truly allowed us to move mountains, creating opportunities where it once did not exist; nonetheless, it is still incredibly exciting to meet with our students and experience the magic of music education in person! To see them on a screen all year and to finally see them in person often feels like a full circle moment. Joyful, exciting, and full of pride.

We want to thank all of you who believe in our cause and are supporting this initiative. Your support means the world to us and our students. Stay tuned for more updates on this venture! 

Meet Valentin, an eleven year old musician from San Juan de Miraflores, Perú. Valentin is one of our most talented and hard working student who consistently participates in our classes, shows continous curiousity and intrigue, and passionately practices at least two hours daily. MFW met Valentin through its partnership with Los Violines de San Juan, a violin ensemble located in the district of San Juan de Miraflores in Lima, Perú. This particular geographic location of Lima is known for its high levels of crime and poverty, with many of its citizens lacking basic commodities such as water and electricity. 

Valentin engages in violin, piano, and composition lessons weekly with Musicians for the World faculty. He shows much dedication and has shown an extraordinary potential for both music and his academic studies (he is the top student in his middle school!).

On May 26, 2023, a MFW co-founder, Jesus Saenz, traveled to Perú to give a masterclass and lessons to members of Los Violines de San Juan. During this trip, he was able to gift an advanced, ¾ violin labeled JTL along with a high quality rosin by Bella Rosin of New York to Valentin. This instrument is going to open an abundance of doors for Valentin as he embarks on his musical journey. He is finally ready to apply for summer camps, scholarships, and, soon enough, he wishes to audition for universities abroad. 

We want to thank to all of our supporters who make moment like these possible through their endless, generous support. Because of you, another life has been changed through music. Thank you.