An Exciting First Visit to Kenya

I've been trying to get to Kenya for years and I finally made it there this July! I have been slowly building a network of friends, contacts and organizations doing similar work, in East Africa and the pieces finally came together to make my first visit. I spent over three weeks in Nairobi embedded with the Art of Music Foundation Kenya and their sistema-inspired project, Ghetto Classics, teaching cello, conducting the orchestra and leading teacher training workshops with the local teachers. I also worked with several other inspiring social justice organizations including RefuSHE, El Sistema Kenya. My final days in Nairboi were spent at The Kenya Conservatoire of Music, where I led a cello masterclass and also performed solo with the orchestra. My trip to Kenya was a personal project, but I was also representing MusAid as we continue to look to establish new partnerships and expand our impact!

The majority of my time was spent teaching with The Art of Music Foundation, an organization in Nairobi, Kenya, which teaches music to over 300 children in Korogocho – one of Kenya’s biggest slums that is home to about 300,000 urban poor. The Art of Music believes that music, with its traditions of structure, discipline and excellence, can offer a great awakening and opportunity to a broad spectrum of Kenyan youth and they see music uniting communities and changing lives.

Orchestra rehearsal on the first day

Cello class--learning a fiddle tune by ear

Recorder class

One of many, many amazing portraits

Ghetto claaasics

I spent two very fun and inspiring afternoons with the incredible women of RefuSHE--this organization is doing phenomenal work with young refugee women across East Africa. On the first day, we did a lot of body percussion and creative composition activities. The second day was a cello show-and-tell, which included a rousing sing-along of Despacito. They also shared several songs with me and it gave me chills to hear them raise their voices together in effortless harmony.

Call and response!

So that's what it feels like!

What should I play?

Another beautiful afternoon was spent with the El Sistema Kenya students at Kawangware Primary School. Through their instrumental programs, ESK aims to use classical music to inspire hope and help under-served children in Nairobi achieve lasting change in their lives. I observed their violin class taught by a visiting instructor and then got a chance to lead a few music games and rhythmic clapping exercises. As I noticed with other programs, the kids jumped into the activities without hesitation or doubt, but full of enthusiasm and joy.

Fierce concentration

Group shot post class

One fun afternoon was spent visiting a satellite program on the outskirts of Nairobi. I led some clapping games and did a cello demonstration--many had never seen or heard a cello before and began laughing uncontrollably when I started playing--I guess it is pretty absurd when you think about. It was really nice to get outside of the city for an afternoon and see a different side of Kenya!

I also had a chance to experience The Kenya Schools Music Festival, organized by the Ministry of Education. The Festival brings together thousands of students from across Kenya to showcase their musical talents in front of judges, basically like a talent contest of EPIC proportions. Amidst the chaos, a small group of students from the school where I was teaching were practicing an arrangement of a Kenyan popular song!

Ghetto Classics students practicing

In addition to my teaching, I reserved a few days to take in the abundant spectacular natural beauty that Kenya has to offer. I visited the Giraffe Centre and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage and spent one morning at Fairview Estate Coffee farm learning about coffee production and the industry in Kenya. The estate was an experience in itself, complete with dazzling waterfalls, banana orchards and a farm. I also hiked through the beautiful Karura Forest Park and was delighted by the ease of access to stunning nature not more than ten minutes from my hotel!

Karura Forest waterfalls

Giraffe Centre close-up, watch out for headbutts!

Fairview Estate Coffee farm

Coffee estate farm

Estate waterfall

Karura Forest caves

The final chapter of my visit centered around the Kenya Conservatoire of Music. I got to lead a masterclass and I was so inspired by the many talented cellists who performed for the class. Not only did they play beautifully and ask incredibly thoughtful questions, but they patiently listened to, and generously attempted all of my crazy ideas. I also had the unique honor of performing solo with the Conservatoire Orchestra for a benefit concert--how special to share the stage with my students!

With the Conservatoire Orchestra

What a talented group of cellists!

And a final special thank you note to Elinor Gollay for organizing a very successful benefit event and to all of the generous donors who made this project possible. It was an extraordinary trip and I can't wait to return to Kenya again very soon!