Raising Leaders A Few Time Zones Away

I took this beautiful photo when hiking in Idaho some years ago.

It’s really cool to meet new members like Maggie a few time zones away based out in Idaho. As a rising freshman and violinist, she’s genuinely interested in learning more about what the Junior Program is all about. Not unlike many of our members, community outreach isn’t a completely foreign performance experience. Teachers who have the time — and a little extra bandwidth around the holidays usually! — sometimes put together studio recitals at assisted living residences, etc. But, what is definitely a new experience, is being part of an organization that formally recognizes, connects and supports likeminded young musicians. So, where does a new member like Maggie go from here?

It starts with a member of our student government making that peer-to-peer connection.‍ ‍Because in order for the Junior Program to thrive, our young leaders will increasingly play a more active and forward role, demonstrating that community is not a noun — it is an action we must take to bring us all together. Our President-elect, Felix, and our leadership team will be working with me to facilitate strengthening member-to-member connections.

Maggie is poised to be a leader, perhaps the first VMA Idaho Senator to connect us with members of the Gem State. As our leadership team takes a breath from finishing the academic year, they will be reaching out soon; for developing a national agenda requires understanding the voice of all its members.

We must stay focused on our our mission, wherever our members call home, wherever our audience may reside, and wherever we may be traveling on this imperfect journey we call life. When a member starts a conversation with another member, that is hope, and it can be a repeatable act of goodwill evinced by future Junior Program members.

I am often reminded of a quote from The World According to Mr. Rogers:

Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.

Looking forward to seeing us all work together this summer and beyond,

- Jonathan