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May 14, 2021
1-2 pm ET

Tickets are $75 for General Admission,

$35 for Teachers and Teaching Artists

We welcome you to join us for an hour of beautiful music and inspirational conversation. We will honor the legacy of the Founder of El Sistema USA®, Mark Churchill, through introducing the Mark Churchill Teacher of the Year Award and the El Sistema USA® Student of the Year Award. All donations are tax-deductible and advance our mission of supporting and growing a nationwide movement of programs inspired by El Sistema, to effect social change through music for children with the fewest resources and the greatest need. We look forward to you joining us and thank you for your support!

All funds raised at this event will go to support the creation of the Mark Churchill Teacher of the Year and El Sistema USA® Student of the Year Awards, as well as El Sistema USA® Student Seminarios. At these seminarios, El Sistema USA hosts intensive, week-long camps, bringing students from different Member programs together from all over the country for inspirational learning opportunities and performances.

Teacher of the Year Committee

El Sistema USA® has assembled a group of leaders in music for social change and the El Sistema movement to support the creation of the criteria for the selection of annual winners of the Mark Churchill Teacher of the Year Award and the El Sistema USA® Student of the Year Award.

Isabelle Tuncer

Isabelle Tuncer, Executive Director of El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, has been an active contributor to Santa Cruz County for over 20 years. Originally from France, Isabelle settled in Santa…

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Dr. Thomas Howard Jr.

As the Executive Director of Kidznotes, Dr. Thomas Howard Jr. is at the forefront of championing high-quality music education for children. His career spans three decades, marked by a deep…

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Garrett Mendez

Garrett Mendez is the Director of Performing Arts at King School in Stamford, CT. Additionally, he is the founding Artistic Director of Project Music, an intensive after-school youth music program,…

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Douglas Lausten

Douglas Laustsen is a musician and educator focused on using both of those roles to build stronger and more engaged communities. He earned a bachelor of music education at Rutgers…

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Vivian E. Gonzalez

Vivian Gonzalez is a proud product of Miami Dade County Public Schools Magnet Programs and community music organizations. A 2014 Grammy Music Educator Award Top-Ten Finalist, Dr. Gonzalez has presented…

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Carmen Delgado

Carmen Delgado is an accomplished Venezuelan flutist and marketing specialist based in New York City, seamlessly blending her passion for music with her expertise in social communication. She began her…

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Daniel Trahey

Dan Trahey is a musician, composer, educator, social entrepreneur and architect for socially conscious, artistically progressive, and genre bending music programs in the United States, South America, and Europe. He…

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Brian Gallion

Dr. Brian Gallion holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in tuba performance from Louisiana State University (LSU), a Master of Music in tuba performance from LSU, and a Bachelor of…

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Eric Williamson

Eric Williamson (he/him) is the Artistic Director of Lavender Light the Black and People of All Colors LGBTQ+ Gospel Choir. This choir is dedicated to continuing the legacy of singing…

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Be a sponsor!

Sponsors will be acknowledged online and in print, with increased visibility for higher levels of sponsorship. The descriptions of what your support could accomplish at El Sistema USA are illustrative, and all support goes where it is needed most. If you prefer that your gifts be directed to specific areas of impact, please reach out to katie@elsistemausa.org for guidance!

$250 Cheers!

Share your connection to El Sistema USA and Mark Churchill with a note of congratulations or thanks!

$500 Celebrate!

Support our Members to attend a regional professional development seminar or the Annual Symposium.

 $1,000 Bravo!

Support on-the-ground consulting from ESUSA staff and team members, connecting with local programs and developing ESUSA nucleos nationwide.

$2,500 Standing Ovation!

Support adding staff and resource capacity to El Sistema USA, supporting program delivery and logistics.

Send your sponsorship with the enclosed return envelope or contact Katie Wyatt at katie@elsistemausa.org to pledge your sponsorship today!

Tickets cost $75 for General Admission,

$35 for Teachers and Teaching Artists.

Get yours today!

Our Goal

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Thank you to our sponsors!

$2,500 Standing Ovation!

Lucia Powe

Linda Bunce

$1,000 Bravo!

Suki de Braganca

Rob Gofourth

Hugh MacGregor

Bonnie Reagan

Lisa Wong and Lynn Chang

Stanford Thompson

Susan Suhr

Kitty Pell

Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina

$500 Celebrate!

Nancy Davis

Anonymous

Anna Klimala

Jessica Therivel

$250 Cheers!

Kathleen Morrison

Katie Wyatt

The SPM Board

Cathy Chan

Sherie and Walter Bush

Anne Henry

Jo Martins

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