The Harvard Cultural Collaborative just pulled off an amazing feat. In bringing a music festival to town, it not only filled Harvard with the sounds of music for a week, but also provided opportunities for all residents to be included in the process of making music. The chamber music workshop was the brainchild of Judy Eissenberg. As vice-chair of the collaborative, she wrote grants for scholarships, recruited the musicians, and was one of the three renowned music coaches for the workshop. When asked how the week went, Eissenberg replied, “Better than I dreamed.”
The entire HCC board joined Eissenberg in making the event happen. Board members found housing for the young professionals—students from all over the world who are studying at conservatories here in the states, most of them in Boston—and they attended to myriad tasks connected with the festival. The UU Church had a large assembly of volunteers who provided meals at Fellowship Hall. One young musician said he spoke for all of them in being incredulous at the generosity of people opening their homes to strangers, making them feel welcome, feeding them breakfasts, and letting them rehearse in their living rooms.
For residents, attending a master class or coaching session meant seeing how interactive the musicians and coaches are and coming to a whole new understanding of the process by which a piece of music comes to be played in a performance. The composer’s notes are only the first step.
In less than a year, the Cultural Collaborative has brought vitality to the town center through a variety of classes, artist receptions, monthlong exhibits, and music jams. In hosting the weeklong chamber music festival, the board and its network of volunteers have raised the bar and shown what a group of visionary and dedicated people can accomplish. Kudos to HCC.
