Paper Orchestra at Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center

Director Hilda Ledezma and piano teacher Linda Chavez hold paper violins crafted for students at the Carlotta K. Petrina Cultural Center (1452 E Madison St.).  Its Revival of Cultural Arts non-profit program promotes the teaching of art and music with the appropriate "attitude, understanding, spirit, inspiration, commitment" to guide underprivileged neighborhood children and foster their development.  With limited resources, volunteers and funding Ms Ledezma has brought together a community that includes fifty families from the Buena Vida area with boundaries from 6th to 22nd Sts and E Madison St to Frontage Rd.  

There's a lot of teamwork in this pile of paper violins.  The hope is for one day to replace them with real violins for the kids.  For the time being, the Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center has six volunteers (working on this particular project - there were other activities going on at the center simultaneously) and three actual violins including a voice and piano teacher.  Other students can be learning guitar or cello in another room at any given time.  The "paper orchestra"was facilitated with the Brownsville Society of Performing Arts (BSPA), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and the Hanna High School Philanthropy program with B.I.S.D. special education consultant Diane Garza (Brownsville Community Foundation).  Hanna students were alotted a $2,500 grant to be gven to a  non-profit organization of thier choice.  They awarded the CPCC after visiting four non-profits and taking a careful assessment of their programming, goals and needs.

Before students can actually learn to play a real violin they must first complete rigorous training exercises to prepare them for instruction of the most difficult musical instruments to master.

Piano teacher Linda Chavez

Violin teacher Georgette Garcia follows motions to lyrics in song so kids can follow along.  She got involved in this project to promote the arts and introduce children to arts and music at an early age.

Roman Gonzalez mans the repair station where violins are brought after being used.  Hopefully he wont have to repair real violins if they are ever acquired.

Guitar teacher Christian Molina has worked with other academies and finds working with Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center more fulfilling because it connects him to less fortunate children in the community who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to learn about music.

Voice teacher Karen Atkinson says the emphasis here is to get children involved in the arts at an early age to foster their creativity which can expand into the arts and be applied to life goals later.

George Ramirez, better known as the creator of our annual Latin Jazz Fest, director of the Brownsville Society for Performing Arts,  future head of the Brownsville Performing Arts Academy which will be located in the Stegman building, and proprietor of the Half Moon Saloon, stated that it took several partnerships to create the "paper orchestra."  He wanted us to remind you that this year's BIG GIVE event is fast approaching so be ready on May 6th!!  (see link below for more information)

There is scant parking space in this neighborhood.  Most parents walk their children to the school and as part of the program get involved in their children's instruction in art and music.

We hope you'll join the spirit of giving to the community this May during the annual "Big Give" event where all participating non-profits will work together to harvest donations from YOU to  share equally in the funds that are collected.  It was amazing to see how much fun was done with a $2,500.00 grant.  They have talented instructors and motivated students and other programs that can only continue through regular fund raising and contributions so please give of your time or resources to help them continue and expand their services.

For more information about how you can help these volunteers and teachers continue serving their communities please contact the Carlotta Petrina Cultural Center or  Brownsville Community Foundation. 

Click here for the BIG GIVE on May 6th