Our Programs
The Corona Youth Music Project, (or “Núcleo Corona” includes three core programs: Orchestra, Orchestral Initiation (or “PreOrchestra”) and the Youth Mentoring Program.
Orchestra
The CYMP Orchestra Program comprises 3 ensembles: The Corona Youth Orchestra, CYO (middle-school to college), the Corona Children's Orchestra, CCO (elementary and middle -school) and the "No Frontiers" Children's Orchestra, NFCO (elementary school). Students attend around 20 different schools in Corona and surrounding Queens neighborhoods.
Through their participation in the orchestra, students develop leadership, mentoring and team-building skills, and through their artistry, they become agents of change for their community.
Orchestral Initiation
The Orchestra Initiation program (AKA "PreOrchestra") comprises two stages: an introduction to music, instrument and ensemble playing, and an orchestra instrument initiation stage. Classes range from 10 to 15 students each. Students come from around 10 different elementary schools in the district.
The PreOrchestra program is modeled and inspired by similar "El Sistema" programs in Venezuela, and has been a pilot program at CYMP since 2010.
Youth Mentoring
The Youth Mentoring Program seeks to give tools and hands-on experience to a group of advanced CYMP students to mentor younger orchestra students, and to develop their leadership, sense of belonging and community organizing through the orchestra. The Youth Mentoring Program is an initiative that CYMP has been putting in practice since 2015. Through it, students have been given basic instruction and tools to lead individual and group lessons and rehearsals.
Our response to the COVID-19 Crisis
Our community, made mostly of immigrants, became know, ironically, as “the epicenter of the epicenter” of this horrible pandemic. By August 2020, more than half of the people tested in Corona were found to have the virus antibodies, the highest percentage in any other neighborhood in New York City. After that, the challenges that this community faces are staggering. Corona is home to many service workers in the city. Many have lost their jobs, and with several thousand of them being undocumented, access to most public assistance – food stamps, unemployment insurance, rental and cash assistance, and stimulus checks– is not an option. Thousands are relying on private organizations and individuals in the community for support.
Our families have shown extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of this crisis. Every time we’ve met online, our screens are full of smiles, and we only hear hope and gratitude in all our voices. Now, as New York City students are starting their new school year under these adverse circumstances, we are also figuring out how to maintain our orchestra community moving forward. At CYMP we have decided to continue our program remotely until public health conditions improve significantly. Our students come from so many different schools, and we are concerned that every rehearsal can potentially become a super-spreading event for school children, their families, and our teachers.
Remote Lessons
The CYMP’s 6 teaching artists and instructors, along with the extra support of 14 volunteer teaching artists from across the United States have been providing over 80 half hour weekly instrument lessons to our orchestra students, and small group lessons (2 students per class) to our “PreOrchestra” students.
Virtual Orchestra
The Virtual Orchestra will includes a series of pieces that students will record individually from home and weaved together in a video on the orchestra in full. The program will also include a number of chamber music pieces that will be included in 4 “virtual concerts” streamed online throughout the school year.
Conversations on Music and Social Justice
As a core part of 2021’s work, students will participate in online moderated conversations on music and social justice, which will also help frame their vision for CYMP and its orchestras for the next 5 years.
Cultural After-School Adventures Programs (C.A.S.A.)
Our NYC Council-funded CASA programs provide orchestra-focused music education to elementary school students in two public schools in Corona. Our CASA programs are part of a long-term project to start symphony orchestras in all elementary and middle schools in Corona.
Students are expected to present small performances to parents, and in other venues whenever possible, at least once per semester.
C.A.S.A. at P.S. 110Q
In school year 2017, P.S. 110Q moved to a new building equipped with a music room and a dedicated music teacher. During that year, CYMP started its first CASA@PS110Q with a 1st grade paper orchestra. Since then, an average of 18 students per year have received string instrument instruction (violin, viola, cello and bass).
Many of them have continued playing in the community-based CYMP orchestras, including the “No Frontiers” Children’s Orchestra. These students have also participated in mentoring sessions with their younger peers at P.S.110Q.
P.S. 330Q was founded in 2010 and in 2013 moved to its new, and current building. It is equipped with a music room and a dedicated music teacher. CYMP started its first CASA@PS330Q program in 2019 with students in first grade.
The 18 students selected play different instruments in the orchestra family, including Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Baritone, Percussion and Violin. As students advance in the upcoming years, other orchestra instruments will be added to the ensemble.