Sistema Ravinia students Guadalupe Ramirez, oboe; Kayle Johnson, flute; and Wanye Williams, percussion, were accepted into the Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative (CMPI), a highly selective training and mentorship program for talented, passionate student musicians from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
CMPI grants students the opportunity to continue to pursue their love of music by removing barriers that may interfere with students’ ability to play their instruments. Private lessons, summer study, ensemble opportunities, audition preparation, and support with college applications and ACT/SAT preparation are guaranteed for participating students.
Ramirez, a 9th grader, has been with Sistema’s Lake County Nucleo since its 2015 launch, and Johnson, a 7th grader, has been a member of the Austin (Circle Rock) Nucleo since she was in 3rd grade. Williams is a recent graduate coming up through programs at Circle Rock and Sistema Ravinia and is now a sophomore at the Chicago High School for the Arts. These young musicians’ acceptance into CMPI is a major accomplishment and one that will bring growth, confidence, and a stronger dedication to music.
“This CMPI opportunity helps me feel more encouraged to audition and helps my confidence in a positive and not cocky way. It helped me want to continue my musical journey and become more focused on the important things about music,” Williams said.
This isn’t the first time Williams has auditioned for and been accepted into a respected program. When he was a 6th grader, he was accepted into the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s prestigious Percussion Scholars Program and worked with them while he was enrolled in Sistema Ravinia, a program he said has fueled his passion for music.
“Sistema Ravinia fueled my passion in more ways than one. It inspired me to continue my music career in high school and attend college to major in music,” Williams said.
Being a part of Sistema Ravinia has been an important part of Johnson’s musical career as well. Being a part of Sistema Ravinia has helped Johnson open up to learning new things and go out of her comfort zone to perform for others. She also credits her Sistema instructors in helping her achieve her acceptance into CMPI.
“Ms. Hayley has been a great role model to me and always encouraged me to be the best I can be,” Johnson said. “And Mr. Michael has also been a great source of support and encouragement from the beginning, and he is always willing to put in the extra time to make sure I’m at my best.”
Johnson was invited by the Chicago Flute Club to play in a master class with flutist Brian Dunbar earlier this year. She hopes to continue to pursue music and her passion for her favorite instrument, something Ramirez wishes to do as well.
“Getting accepted into CMPI makes me feel proud, and it makes me feel good about myself, knowing that I put the effort and time into trying to get the video and all the requirements to apply. I feel really happy and proud about it, and I feel that Ravinia has helped me prepare for things like this,” Ramirez said. “They’re guiding me on this path, and I feel grateful for having all these people supporting me.”
Ramirez discovered her passion for music and the oboe by just picking up the instrument and playing it. She recalls trying different instruments and then just “clicking” with the oboe when she picked it up.
“I thought that playing an instrument would be like a hobby, but once I got the chance to play, rehearse, and learn about music, I really started to take it more seriously,” Ramirez said. “I also knew that there weren’t many other oboe players in the Sistema Ravinia program, so that gave me the chance to stand out.”
Ramirez and her family are thrilled about this opportunity and see a bright future in store for the young musician. As for the Sistema Ravinia faculty, they cannot wait to see what is in store for all the participating students.
“We are so proud of Kaylee, Wanye, and Guadalupe. To see our students achieving musical excellence and envisioning themselves in America’s top conservatories and orchestras is a dream come true,” said Christine Taylor Conda, Director of Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play education programs. “This is the beginning of their musical journey, and we know that they will continue to shape a beautifully diverse world of music.”
ABOUT SISTEMA RAVINIA
Sistema Ravinia was founded in 2012 and now serves more than 180 4th–8th grade students in Chicago and Lake County public schools. Students in the program receive daily ensemble and orchestral instruction on their instruments. Sistema Ravinia includes three sites, or nucleos: the first was launched at Catalyst Circle Rock School located in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. With the success of the Circle Rock site, Sistema Ravinia expanded to Lake County in October 2015, using Bennett Gordon Hall on Ravinia’s grounds as a program site, and this year established a program in Lawndale, expanding Ravinia’s presence in that Chicago community. Sistema Ravinia is just one of the festival’s Reach Teach Play education programs, which serve 75,000 community members each year. To learn more about Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play programs, visit bit.ly/RaviniaRTP.