News and Updates | BRAVO Music & Arts Academy

Program Spotlight: BRAVO Elementary Choir

February 22, 2024

In BRAVO Elementary Choir class students learn proper vocal techniques such as good breathing, blending, pitch, and harmony. Students explore and sing different genres of music. In addition to learning musical skills students, receive social/emotional support and have a safe space to be themselves, learn the value of teamwork, kindness, collaboration, respect, diversity, and discipline. In December, after our return from the strike hiatus, we wasted no time and dove straight back into our music to prepare for both our December Showcase and our momentous Bravo 10th Anniversary March performance. With just one week to spare for our Showcase, we eagerly worked extremely hard by rekindling the students’ muscle memory and recalling what they had learned so far. Despite the month-long break, they performed really well, leaving me as the teacher thrilled to witness their engagement and focus. We have expanded our repertoire by incorporating new music that includes foreign languages, soulful melodies, and movement/dance arrangements. This is super exciting and the students seem to like it as well. In January and February, it has been great to have consistent class time rehearsing with the choir students. Though we did lose time due to the ice storm, when we got

BRAVO Winter Concert Round-up

February 2, 2024

Though our fall programming was shortened due to the PPS strike, we had our James John/Chavez Winds and Brass Showcase at James John on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023 and the Intermediate/Advanced Orchestra concert on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 as a part of the BRAVO Community Orchestra concert. We want to give a huge shout out to our teaching staff, Heidi, Claudine, Alexis, Daniel, Marian, Sara, Alexandra, Ryan and Kahli, for their OUTSTANDING work with our students. We had two stages full of excited students who displayed so much joy and confidence as they were playing together and soloing – and our parents and community members came out in a great way to support the students!

Program Spotlight: BRAVO Head Start

February 1, 2024

Bravo Head Start is Expanding! Beginning February 8, 2024, Bravo’s Head Start programming will be expanding to Sitton Head Start in North Portland. Music lessons will be provided to students once a week through the end of the school year. This will be our second Head Start programming initiative, following Clarendon Head Start. Bravo’s Head Start music lessons are based on methods such as Orff and Suzuki early childhood learning. Students learn the basics of music concepts like rhythm and pitch with the help of voice, drums, xylophones, and more. Traditionally, Bravo has aimed to serve students that traditionally haven’t had access to music lessons, and expanding within the Head Start world aligns with this goal. Happy New Year, and we are looking forward to more music in 2024!

Thank you from the BRAVO Musicians

February 1, 2024

Thank you to all of the musicians, teachers and staff for an amazing concert!

Catalyst Quartet visits BRAVO

December 8, 2023

Chamber Music Northwest’s 2023 Artists-in-Residence, Catalyst Quartet visited our George Middle School program on November 29 for a workshop and performance! Quartet members spent time working with our students in sectional rehearsals providing individual and instrument specific instruction. The quartet then gave a short performance and did a Q&A session with thoughtful, funny, and practical advice on how to continue to incorporate music into your life whether you are wanting to have a career in music or not! One student said, “We really enjoyed working closely with professional musicians.” While another added, “It’s really cool that they have won a Grammy!” A huge thank you to Chamber Music Northwest for providing this opportunity!

BRAVO at the World Congress of El Sistema

October 3, 2023

Marian Gutierrez-Curiel On September 18th, our Strings Program Coordinator, Marian Gutierrez-Curiel travelled back to her country Venezuela to have an encounter with her musical family from “El Sistema”, an organization she has been part of for more than 20 years. On this occasion she had the opportunity to represent BRAVO Youth Orchestras as an active organization member of El Sistema USA. From 18th to 23rd September, The II World Congress El Sistema brought together representatives from 40 countries from 5 continents, 80 orchestras and choir programs inspired by the Venezuelan program, as well as 88 international musicians who shared with their Venezuelan counterparts, all united in this event that aim to strengthen alliances and create new tools so that music continues to be the axis of social transformation. During one week there were held presentations, workshops, academic exchanges, visits to the “núcleos” and other activities, during which participants were able to learn about the 12 programs developed by El Sistema; the functioning and scope of the “núcleos” and modules; the artistic level of the professional orchestras and choirs, and the methodology used to provide musical training to more than one million Venezuelan students who are currently members of El Sistema in Venezuela. This

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