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Jennifer Klein's Files
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Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a publication.
Publications have not been scanned in their entirety for the purpose
of digitization. To see the full publication please search online or
visit the Clinton Presidential Library's Research Room.
Safe and Smart
Making the After-School
Hours Work for Kids
NOA MEYER
Jen,
& thought you
might like this
info for your files.
-non
OPUS 118
MUSIC CENTER, INC.
THE EAST HARLEM PUBLIC SCHOOL
VIOLIN PROGRAM
4/21/98
Board of Directors
Evangeline Benedetti
Chairperson
David Gomez
Vice Chairperson
Dear Ms. Mayer:
Eladia Riggs Bing
Treasurer
Carol Foresta
Secretary
kim Hunry 8 your office
Carol Maillard
Secretary
called this morning requesting
Danixa Berte-Toomer
Carmen Cabello
Barry Crumbley
another package about OPNS 118.
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras
Erlin Ibreck
lucy Matos
Diane Monroe
We are Imay planning our next
Gary Stephens
Dorit Straus
Dorothea von Haeften
Ellen Weiss
Fiddlefest Concurt which will be
Board of Advisors
outdeors in Custral Purk on Satwaday,
Jon Diamond
Chairperson
September 5th
Edward Eichler
Richard Gelman
Susan Kaplan
Nan Newton
We would be honored of the
Bob Oxnam
Victor Palmieri
Harvey Schulman
First lady $ Pressident Clunton
Artistic Director
would join us.
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras
Executive Director
Eric M. Gribin
Thank you for your inferest.
Sincerely
210 East 86th Street
Suite 401
New York, NY 10028
Tel. (212)396-3168
Fax (212)396-3179
Opus 118 Music Center, Inc.
The East Harlem Violin Program
210 East 86th Street
Suite 401
New York, NY 1002
Tel. (212) 396-3168
Fax: (212) 396-3179
Board of Directors
January 20, 1998
Evangeline Benedetti
Chairporson
Ms. Noa Meyer
David Gomez
Office of the First Lady
Vice Chairperson
Eladia Riggs Bing
Old Executive Office Building
Treasurer
Room 100
Carol Foresta
Secretary
Washington, D.C. 20500
Carol Maillard
Secretary
Dear Noa:
Danixa Berte-Toomer
Carmen Cabello
As you requested, we herewith sending you information about Opus 118 -
Barry Crumbley
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras
The East Harlem Violin Program. Enclosed, is the 77-minute Academy
Erlin Ibreck
Award-nominated film "Small Wonders" and a 13 minute tape of highlights
Lucy Matos
of this film. We have also included some articles and our brochure.
Diane Monroe
Gary Stephens
Dorit Straus
If Bobbie Green is meeting with the Soros Foundation, please let her know
Dorothea von Haeften
Ellen Weiss
that we are very glad to hear of her interest in the violin program and we
look forward to speaking with her about her meeting.
We are now expanding the violin program to serve many more New York
Board of Advisors
City public school children, and we would be grateful for any help your
Jon Diamond
office can give us.
Chairpenson
Edward Eichler
Richard Gelman
Thank you again for your interest in Opus 118.
Susan Kaplan
Nan Newton
Bob Oxnam
Sincerely,
Victor Palmieri
Harvey Schulman
Artistic Director
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras
Eric
Executive
Executive Director
Eric M. Gribin
EMG/ab
cc: Susan Kaplan
The East Harlem Public School Violin Program
Opus 118 Music Center, Inc.
MISSION STATEMENT
Opus 118 Music Center stands for the idea that music must be an
integral part of every child's education. As Deborah Meier, former
principal of the three East Harlem schools involved in the violin
program, said "One way we grapple with ideas is through the arts. A
school that has ignored the artist in us has done damage." Learning a
musical instrument has benefits beyond the mastery of technical
skills; it teachers listening, concentration, discipline, cooperation,
and high standards. Significant research suggests that it develops
basic intelligence. Itzhak Perlman has said, "A program such as this
gives our children the very skills necessary to cope with the
problems for the future. It produces not just violinists, but doctors
and lawyers as well. It teaches that the foundation of excellence is
perseverance."
Opus 118 is committed to:
1) maintaining music and art as integral components in the three
East Harlem public schools in District 4 where it resides.
2) providing an internship mentoring program to train more
teachers so that the program can be expanded.
3) expanding opportunities in District 4 and providing support
for other public schools elsewhere that want to create their
own music programs.
The East Harlem Public School Violin Program has been an
inspiration, nationally and internationally. It is an example of what
is possible to achieve with children of diverse ethnic and socio-
economic backgrounds when there is a collaboration between well-
trained teachers and a supportive community.
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras
Born in 1947, Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras grew up in a working-class family in
Rome, New York. She began to play the violin in her public elementary
school, and went on to earn degrees at the State University of new York at
Fredonia and Boston University School of Fine Arts. In 1980 Guaspari-Tzavaras,
then a single mother of two young boys, moved to New York City. She chose to
live within the community where she would work, making her home on East
118th street in East Harlem. There she raised two sons, now college age, and
later adopted a daughter from El Salvador.
Guaspari-Tzavaras' program at River East School and Central Park East Schools
in East Harlem is unique. Such is the quality of her teaching that dozens of
her students have gone on to perform with New York's InterSchool Orchestras
and with the New York Youth Symphony. Many are accepted at the La Guardia
High School of Performing Arts and the Juilliard School's Music Advancement
Program for promising young minority musicians. Countless others have felt
the joy and fulfillment of musical expression. Not only do they play well - in
tune, in time, with musicality, and verve - but they have been changed by the
experience.
In 1990 the New York City Board of Education announced $500 million in
budget cuts for the 1991-1992 school year. Guaspari-Tzavaras' position was
eliminated. Since she had tenure, she could have gone to work at a different
school as a general music teacher but she decided she must continue to serve
her students in the community setting the magnet schools created. "One way
or another, I am going to keep doing what I do best - teach violin," she said.
She felt that her own public-school music education was a "gift" that she
wanted to give back."
Working with parents, teachers, and other volunteers, Guaspari-Tzavaras
created the Opus 118 Music Center Inc., a nonprofit corporation that raises
funds to support her program.
Ms. Guaspari-Tzavaras teaches a three week seminar on "Violin in the
classroom" for the Summer Musicorda Program at Mount Holyoke College.
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras has been the recipient of several awards,
including: The Petra Foundation annual award, a national award which
"supports unsung individuals who are making distinctive contributions to
human freedom"; a"Hero for Today" award, from the Reader's Digest
Foundation; and in 1995, one of CBS-TV's "Woman of the Year" awards. She
has appeared in the national media on several occasions, including CBS'
Sunday Morning, NBC's Today Show, in an interview with Tom Brokaw, to name
but a few.
Since 1993 Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras has led two "Fiddlefest" benefit concerts
in New York and one in Zurich, Switzerland. During these concerts the East
Harlem students share the stage with Isaac Stern, Mark O'Connor, Itzhak
Perlman, Arnold Steinhardt, Midori, and others. Each of these events was
received with great enthusiasm by the audience and media.
GELS
OF MUSIC
-
A.Harlem teacher knows
where it comes from: hard
work and no shortcuts
A
"I train the students like you would an athlete," says Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras (at New York City's River East Elementary School).
Photographs by Frank Veronsky
12 2 96 PEOPLE 115
ANGELS
A dedicated teacher asks as much as she gives
On the spot she produces a pair of
chppers from her knapsack.
OBERTA GUASPARI-TZAVARAS
told you those boots look slippery.
Despite such rigor. none of Guaspari-
takes teaching very. very seri-
Don't wear those on violin days!" An-
Tzavaras's 150 students seem (1) regard
ously. and she doesn't hesitate
other second grader provokes Guas-
her as the Violin Teacher from Hell. On
to let students know it. "Adam!"
pari-Tzavaras's most mortifying re-
the contrary, her innovative East
she chides a young pupil at Harlem's
proach of the day: "I've told you time
Harlem Violin Program, which provides
River East Elementary School who
and time again, Kenny: You cannot
free-of-charge violin instruction at
has worn cowboy boots to class. "I've
play the violin with those long nails!"
three New York City public elementary
schools, attracts SO many eager appli-
Students took
cants that Guaspari-Tzavaras, 49. holds
part in a 1993 con-
a lottery each year to keep classes a
cert featuring
manageable size. "I know she's a tough
Itzhak Perlman
teacher," explains 9-year-old Jose Ro-
(left) and Isaac
jas. "But it's for my own good."
Stern.
That kind of attitude might seem
rare in a grade school student, but
Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras-the sub-
jeet of an Academy Award-nominated
Y
"[The violin] is
documentary, Small Wonders-is an un-
always in my heart,
commonly determined teacher. Squirm-
just like my father
ing beginners are required to spend two
ever since he
hours a week working just on posture
died," says student
and form. while students at higher lev-
Jose Rojas, 9).
els snap to attention and play a Vivaldi
double concerto. Declares Guaspari-
Tzavaras: "Music is as important as
learning to read and write. It exercises
their brains. There's this wonderful
feeling of pride and empowerment."
And those empowered become eager
mentors. "Someone may be having
trouble with their bow. and the second-
year kid will go right over," says Guas-
pari-Tzavaras. "They love it! And it re-
inforces what I've taught."
What she teaches has been accom-
plished against all odds. In 1991. New
York City's financially strapped Board
of Education eliminated all art and mu-
sic programs in the schools. costing
Guaspari-Tzavaras her job. Undaunted.
she organized a fund-raising group
called Opus 118 Music Center (after
the address of her townhouse on East
Harlem's 118th Street), which pays for
violins and her own $50,000 salary.
Then, last month. some 70 violins and
cellos were destroyed when violent
rains Booded a school closet where they
were stored. "I'm fighting all the time.
savs the beleaguered teacher.
Her passion for music began at a pub-
lic elementary school in a working-class
neighborhood of Rome, N.Y. The oldest
child of Assunta Guaspari, a now retired
kitchen worker, and her husband. Guy.
who died in a 1974 factory accident.
Roberta began studying violin in fourth
grade. She eventually graduated with a
music education degree from the State
University of New York at Fredonia in
116
12 2 96 PEOPLE
A
"Being a mother is probably what I'm most proud of," says Guaspari-Tzavaras (at home with Nicholas, Alexi and Sophia).
1969. While working on her master's at
ter of the British-run Campion School
home and be a mother." says Alexi.
Boston University, she met George
to hire her. No sooner had Guaspari-
"She is just as passionate about moth-
Tzavaras, a Navy officer studying at
Tzavaras established herself there than
ering as she is about teaching."
MIT. "I was 24. Italian and not mar-
George asked for a divorce. "It was the
And there are those who are passion-
ried." she says. "The pressure was on
lowest point of my life." she says.
ate about her. In 1993. world-class vio-
from my family." They wed in 1971.
But Guaspari-Tzavaras rebounded.
Imists. including Itzhak Perlman and
As George rose through Navy
With her sons--and violins-in tow. she
Arnold Steinhardt, helped organize a
ranks-with postings in Honolulu and
moved 111 New York City III 1980. sub-
Carnegie Hall benefit concert that
Newport. R.I.--the family was always
letting an East Harlem apartment from
raised nearly $300,000 for her program.
on the move. Teaching violin and per-
a couple whose children attended Cen-
"This woman has an incredible, demon-
suading school administrators to invest
tral Park East schools. a city-run alter-
ic amount of energy." says violin virtu-
in musical instruments proved a daunt-
native program. That led to an intro-
080 Isaac Stern. "She draws things out
ingly tough career choice. especially at-
duction to the school's music-loving
of the kids. And from her they gain a
ter the birth of the couple's two sons.
principal. Deborah Meier. and a part-
sense of self." That's certainly true 101
(Nicholas, now 21. studies cello at the
time job. Three years later. when she
Guaspari-Tzavaras alum Melia Crumb-
New England Conservatory of Music.
was hired full-time. Guaspari-Tzavaras
ley. 15. When kids who hang out on the
and Alexi. 19. is an Amherst College
had fallen in love again-this time with
street mock her for spending so much
sophomore.) Finally, when the family
her gritty new neighborhood, where
time practicing. says Meha. "I just look
moved to Greece in 1977. Roberta de-
she lovingly restored the townhouse
them right back in the eye and say.
vised a solution. Withdrawing $5,000
she lives in with Sophia. a 5-year-old
What are you doing with your life?'
from the family savings, she bought 50
from El Salvador, whom she adopted in
PATRICK ROGERS
tiny violins and persuaded the headmas-
1991. ".\]\ mother really needs to come
ELIZABETH MULLEN in New York City
12 2 96 PEOPLE
19