Melodies, applause and smiling faces filled the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral on Saturday night when the Penn Music Mentoring Program hosted its First Annual Gala Concert.
To foster interaction between the Penn and West Philadelphia communities, students from West Philadelphia High School's Jazz Ensemble and Gospel Choir were given the opportunity to play and sing with similar groups from Penn.
"We really wanted to get both sets of students working together and coming up with a concert that they both 'owned' and were a key part of," PMMP President and College sophomore Gabe Mandujano said. "It's a good, albeit small, example of how Penn can take an active roll in assisting West Philadelphia schools and have a larger roll in the community in general."
In addition to the high school and Penn groups, local group Warren Oree and the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble and Penn's a cappella group Dischord also participated in the event.
Mandujano pointed out that the combination of solo and collaborated performance groups helped to serve as teaching tools for himself and other mentors, showing their mentees the high caliber of music performance which, with hard work, is possible.
"It was really a good experience," West Philadelphia High School student Joel Green said. "We got to sing with stronger voices that we had never sung with before."
There are currently about 25 Penn students who provide nearly 40 West Philadelphia students with music lessons.
"We go into the school once a week and take the kids out of one period of class to give them a music lesson," College freshman Jeff William explained. "It's very rewarding because the school's music program is pretty new. It's really a special thing to feel that you're aiding kids with their music."
Green agreed with William, adding that the mentors seem to be having a large impact on many of his peers.
"I'll see kids leave for their music lessons with sad faces, but then they come back in with smiles," Green said.
This fall, PMMP expanded to Lea Elementary School, where they began a pilot after-school music program.
According to Mandujano, next fall, when PMMP turns three years old, the cathedral will become the site of an after-school music program for local schools and community groups "to broaden and deepen the music educational resources available to students in this area."
