Sister Cities Essex Haiti is proud to be included in Essex Savings Bank’s Community Investment Program.
Vote Now

Sister Cities Essex Haiti

Educational and Cultural Collaborations in Deschapelles
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Who we are
    • Background
    • Mission
    • Board of Directors
    • ODES
  • What we do
    • Collaborate
    • Projects in Haiti
      • Library
      • Education
      • Music
      • Athletics
      • Future Projects
    • Initiatives in Connecticut
  • Why Haiti?
    • Why Deschapelles?
  • Stories
  • Galleries
    • Library
    • Music
    • Education
    • Athletics
    • Deschapelles
    • Supporters
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • How can I help?
  • Donate
You are here: Home / Music Project

Music Project

For a detailed history and current status of the Music Project, please click here.

Since 2011, SCEH has conducted a music program in Deschapelles that:

  • Provides musical instruments, sheet music, music books and instrument stands.
  • Provides an opportunity for US musicians to play with Haitian musicians promoting cultural understanding through music as a common language.
  • Sponsored musicians from Deschapelles to attend the Ste. Trinitè Music Camp in the north of Haiti.
  • Inspired the Deschapelles Fanfare band to create their own Beginner Band.

Many towns in Haiti have local Fanfare bands.  They are hired to play at celebrations, funerals and a variety of occasions.  Deschapelles has such a band consisting of approximately 30 men and women.  In April 2011, members of the band submitted an application to Sister Cities Essex Haiti and ODES for a musical exchange and support for their band.

Trumpet held together by tape and glue
Trumpet held together by tape and glue

The first challenge was to improve the quality of the instruments. Many of the band’s instruments were old or damaged, held together with tape and glue, lacking appropriate valve buttons or badly dented.

Karen Birch Blundell and Dr. Liana Valente, Sigma Alpha Iota members (2nd and 3rd from left), Stu Ingersoll, a donor of several instruments (2nd from right), and SCEH members

Several Essex residents donated their well-cared for trumpets and trombones. Sigma Alpha Iota, a national musical fraternity in the US, helped to purchase instruments, music stands, and music books.   Face Arts Music in Deep River, Connecticut arranged for the purchase of instruments at very affordable prices. Since 2011, SCEH has been able to provide the Deschapelles Fanfare band many instruments including trombones, an alto sax, trumpets, clarinets, flutes, a bass drum, a snare drum and a baritone.

Tandemeer loading supplies

Transporting the instruments is always a challenge. Many were carried down by volunteers, others were allowed by the airlines to go at no extra charge. Still others were transported via sailboat on Tandemeer, part of the International Rescue Group’s fleet of boats.

Musicians from Deschapelles and US in a musical exchange

In June 2011 and April 2015, several musicians from the US traveled to Deschapelles for a week of music lessons, collaboration and performances. Paddy Hurley, a founder of the Essex Community Music School and life-long music teacher served as the Maestra.

With the new instruments, music and skills, the Deschapelles Fanfare band has created a Beginner Band. Since 2013, the Fanfare band has taught music to over 30 students ranging in age from seven to mid-20s. One of those students, Castillo Saint Armand, had such a passion for the clarinet, that he quickly outgrew the skills of the Fanfare musicians and continued to study on his own with music provide by SCEH. SCEH was able to send him to Ste Trinitè Music Camp in Port au Prince and to study with the first clarinetist in the Ste. Trinitè Philharmonic. He is now a member of the Ste. Trinitè Philharmonic!  Since then, there have been workshops and performances between Ste. Trinitè Music School and the Fanfare band in Deschapelles.

Castillo St. Armand

For a detailed history and current status of the Music Project, please click here.

Music Project News:

Music Update: June 2022

Music Update: Summer 2018

Music Update: July 2016

Music Update: March 2016

Music Update: Summer 2015

Learn more about the Music Project


Watch a film about the library.

Join our Mailing List:

To get the latest on all that is
happening in Deschapelles
with our projects,

Join our Mailing List

Please consider a Donation:

Please consider a Donation:
100% of all money raised goes
to support our work with the
people of Deschapelles.

Make a Donation

Search

Tennis Update:

Kim Bergner, MD is a huge supporter of the SCEH tennis program at the Club Tennis Deschapelles (CTD) in Deschapelles, Haiti. She sponsors fundraisers and gathers donors for the program. Dr. Bergner created a website to share details of the history, operations, coaches, and players. Please click on the link here to explore more.

Sister Cities Essex Haiti
P.O. Box 26
Essex CT 06426
info@sistercitesessexhaiti.org

  • Home
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Why Haiti?
  • Stories
  • Galleries
  • FAQ
  • Donate
  • Contact

© 2022  · Sister Cities Essex Haiti

Copyright © 2023 · Outreach Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in