Poster ComMUSication
ComMUSication staff members (L to R) Jacob Dodd, Mariah Hoffman, Ryan LaBoy, Sara Zanussi and Ashley Sievers
provided photo

ComMUSication brings music education to St. Paul's Promise neighborhood

Interview with ComMUSication's Sara Zanussi and Ryan LaBoy

For ComMUSication, a fairly new (2014) music organization dedicated to building relationships with young, budding musicians in St. Paul's Promise Neighborhood, making strong connections with Minnesota music lovers is one major key to success.

Inspired by the Harlem Children's Zone in New York City, The Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood is a community-wide effort to ensure all children succeed in school and in life through seamless coordination of cradle-to-career educational, family, and community resources and supports. Encompassing a 250-block area in the Summit-University and Frogtown neighborhoods, the Promise Neighborhood effort is led by The Wilder Foundation and supported by a variety of community organizations, including the City of Saint Paul, St. Paul Public Schools, Ramsey County, St. Paul Public Schools Foundation, Summit University Planning Council, Frogtown Neighborhood Association, and the YWCA of Saint Paul.

ComMUSication's mission — to provide a high-quality, intensive music education opportunity that demographically represents St. Paul's Promise neighborhood and to build community across schools, cultures, and in greater St. Paul through frequent community performances — is well served by its small but dedicated staff and by its group of volunteers.

As such, ComMUSication is currently looking for "Choir Buddies" to help support the young singers in the ComMUSication Choir.

If you are a caring music lover, 21+ with reliable transportation, and are willing and able to mentor young music students, attend the choir's six performances this season (plus attend two "Choir Buddy" days), and help with transportation to and from practice, then you may be the perfect candidate.

To quote ComMUSication's website:

Why are Choir Buddies important?
Because every child needs someone who believes in them! When CMC youth are sharing their gift of song, they want someone special to give it to, and that person might just be YOU.

For more information, visit ComMUSication's website.

And, for more information about this remarkable El Sistema-like program, use the audio player above to listen to my conversation with ComMUSication's Founder and Executive Programming Director, Sara Zanussi, and Founding Music Director, Ryan LaBoy.

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