EL SISTEMA-INSPIRED ‘CHARACTER, ACHIEVEMENT AND MUSIC PROJECT’ HAD
SUCCESSFUL PILOT IN SPRING 2013
CHAMPS TO PERFORM AT NJSO FAMILY CONCERT ON NOV 30
AT NJPAC IN NEWARK
Newark, New Jersey — Following a successful six-week pilot program last spring, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and University Heights Charter School (UHCS) in Newark present the first full school year of NJSO CHAMPS (Character, Achievement and Music Project)—an intensive education program inspired by the Venezuelan social change and music education program El Sistema. NJSO CHAMPS seeks to develop students’ goal-directed behavior and skills to foster social and academic success, improving students’ self-esteem, academic achievement and lifelong character traits like perseverance and leadership.
This school year, 50 UHCS students in grades four through seven are receiving intensive after-school instruction—including group string lessons and full ensemble rehearsals—for two hours per day, three days per week. Professional musicians serve as teaching artists, giving violin, viola and cello lessons. NJSO Education & Community Engagement Conductor Jeffrey Grogan leads orchestra rehearsals and concerts.
“A lot of people don’t get to express themselves through an instrument—this gives me the opportunity to do that,” says UHCS fifth grader Shantreea J., now in her second year in the program.In a special performance, CHAMPS will join the NJSO on stage for Variations on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” at the NJSO Family concert “Shooting for the Stars” on Saturday, November 30, at 2 pm at NJPAC in Newark.
Parent Felicia Johnson, whose fourth-grade daughter, Shanasia, is in her first year of CHAMPS, says: “The program is just awesome because it takes our urban children and teaches them that there is
