On February 15 and 16, 2013, Duke University teamed up with local non-profit KidZNotes, the Longy School of Music of Bard College, and the LA Philharmonic to host a 2-day southern regional development conference on the topic of supporting social change through music. "Take A Stand" is the national El Sistema initiative in leadership and teaching in the El Sistema movement in the United States.
The 2-day conference included innovative sessions on Creativity and Improvisation as a Social Process for Student Engagement, Music and Social Entrepreneurship, and the Arts and Social Leadership, among others. In addition, attendees experienced a behind-the-scenes look into the El Sistema operations and philosophy of Durham-based KidZNotes, North Carolina’s first El Sistema-inspired program.
Speakers included Erik Holmgren, Director of "Take A Stand" at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Patricia Plude, visiting faculty member for the Masters of Arts in Teaching Program at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Scott Lindroth, Duke University’s Vice Provost for the Arts, Christopher Gergen, founder of Bull City Forward, Jane Hawkins, Stephen Jaffe, and Hsiao-mei Ku of the Duke Music Department, and Katie Wyatt, founding Executive Director of KidZNotes, among others.
Department of Music