Lighting the spark for learning…Ojalá!
Article and photos by Leona Camp

On a recent Friday evening, the Haven Quartet, who played in the Chamber Music Festival, came to the little rancho of San Miguel Viejo to give a concert for 90 children and their families.

As the sun set, the quartet sat in front of the original Parroquia and played a program of Mozart and Dvořák for a rapt audience who had never heard this kind of music, much less witnessed an actual performance by such happy, animated musicians, who also explained in Spanish about the music they were playing, and how to listen.

The musicians—Michelle Lee and Tina Hadari, violins, Netta Hadari, viola, and Elise Pittenger, cello—also gave delightful introductions to the music. Following the concert, people from the rancho gave a reception with lots of food and aguas de frutas. It was a magical evening for all, and perhaps a new beginning for music in the rancho.

The members of the Haven Quartet offered to perform for the children after hearing Elsmarie Norby at the Unitarian Fellowship meeting on Sunday speaking about the children’s response to a choral concert at the Parroquia in the Jardín the previous Thursday. She said that after hearing the choir several of the children asked one of the mothers, “How did they get to do that?”

For Elsmarie, this was the spark she’d been hoping for during all the months she’s been giving up to 70 children the opportunity to experience art, music and reading every week at her house in the rancho. “Of course, it was always thrilling to see the children so excited about having a space with materials for making things; music for singing, dancing and listening; and books for reading, but when a child asks, ‘How can I do that?’ that is a breakthrough to really learning.”

The program is called Ojalá, an expression used often by Mexicans to express a hope. The mission of Ojalá is “to awaken the curiosity and creativity that is in each child.” If you want to help by volunteering your time or donating materials or funds, contact Elsmarie at elsmarienorby@yahoo.com  or 044 (415) 101-7757.