A little more about Christine Witkowski

TED interview:

What’s one thing you hope to accomplish by spreading the El Sistema program? What impact do you see it having on young lives and/ or communities in the US?

In Dr. Abreu’s words, I hope to facilitate a great “affluence of spirit” in disadvantaged youth through music. The music school becomes the center for the child’s support network — it is here that the student, family, friend and teacher congregate. From this support network, a child-centered community is cultivated, creating a safe and supportive space where music nurtures the whole child. The self-esteem, creativity, responsibility, cooperative learning skills and self-expression acquired gives each child the ability to contribute fully and gracefully within the life of her community now and in the future.

Biography:

Christine Witkowski has shaped a musical career in both performance and outreach. At Northwestern University, she studied horn performance with Gail Williams and William Barnewitz, receiving her Bachelor of Music in 2007. While living in Evanston during her undergraduate studies, Christine began volunteering for Youth Organizations Umbrella Inc. and soon became the program director for “Breakfast Club,” a mentoring and tutoring program for disadvantaged youth. During her time at Northwestern, Christine was fortunate to have many fulfilling musical experiences, including attending the Colorado College Summer music festival, playing principal horn in the New York String Orchestra and attending the Norfolk chamber music festival. In the fall of 2007, Christine moved to Montreal to study horn with John Zirbel and attend McGill University for her master’s degree. While in Montreal, Christine appeared with the McGill Symphony Orchestra as a soloist playing Haydn’s First Horn Concerto, played extra horn with the Montreal Symphony, and was awarded a full fellowship to study at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Dedicated to music outreach, Christine recently won the horn position in the Miami Music Project in Miami, Florida, an organization that is dedicated to bringing music performance to children in the Miami area.