Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Fredrickson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lindsay. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up wanting to be a professional orchestral clarinet player. I got my undergraduate degree in Clarinet Performance at DePaul and then went to get my masters at arguably the best music school in the country, the Eastman School of Music. However, about halfway through my degree at Eastman, I realized that I was incredibly unhappy. I had been trying to force myself to continue down a path I had always wanted because I didn’t want to “give up” or think that I had “wasted” all this time and money on something I didn’t really want to do. Things got to where I could barely make myself practice or get out of bed, for that matter. Ultimately, I decided that a life of auditions and rehearsals wasn’t meant for me. I began exploring other options and new that outreach was something I was really interested in. I began interning at ROCmusic, an El Sistema program in Rochester, NY. It was both my first experience with El Sistema and with general music and I immediately fell in love with both. I knew that I wanted to have my own El Sistema program one day, but that seemed like a long way off.
I moved to Chicago after I graduated and after some time, I began working for Ravinia’s El Sistema program on Chicago’s west side. I’ve been there for three years and am now both a clarinet teacher and the program coordinator at our site. About a year ago, there was a job opportunity that came available in the administrative side of our organization and I went through a long interview process and ultimately ended up not getting the job. I was pretty disappointed and apparently complained about it a lot to my roommate because she ended up reminding me of a really important point in my favorite t.v. show of all time, Parks, and Rec. There’s a point when the main character, Leslie Knope (my spirit animal), is voted out of office and she decides to try to run again immediately. Everyone knows it’s a terrible idea so they bring in a political adviser to talk her out of it. She ends up saying “If your dreams aren’t making you happy anymore, you need to dream bigger.” Or something like that! It really reminded me that the whole point, all along, was to have my own Sistema program, to do things the way I wanted, the way I believed in, and do something for the good of the community.
What had been holding me back from starting Chicago Arts Project up to that point had been financial reasons. I couldn’t figure out a way to come up with the capital for an entire orchestra of instruments. I decided that I would hold an instrument drive, and maybe even 3 or 4 instrument drives, to collect enough. I ran an instrument drive for the length of the Christmas season and was blown away at the response. Within 48 hours, I already had 10 instruments and over $1,000. It became clear right away that the dream wasn’t as far off as I thought. I like to say I started a nonprofit on accident! Once the instruments were coming in, things took a pretty natural course. I found a wonderful partner in Breakthrough Ministries, who have offered to let us use their brand new FamilyPlex for rehearsals, storage, and concerts. Alfred Music stepped up to donate music and Hungry for Music is donating 8-12 violins at the end of the summer. Between the generosity of the community, an extraordinary amount of work, and some luck, Chicago Arts Project is setting up to be a wonderful program in East Garfield Park.
Has it been a smooth road?
Surprisingly enough, things have gone pretty smoothly. Most things in life, at least for me, seem to be very difficult. Once I started Chicago Arts Project, though, things started falling into place. Like I said, the instrument drive was much more successful than I anticipated. My partner, Breakthrough Ministries, was the first community location I reached out to about being a home for the orchestra, and they wanted in! People I barely know have been reaching out to help, to donate their time, money or skills as musicians. Today, I received a grant I had forgotten that I applied for that will cover half the cost of music stands! Yes, there are things I am concerned about: sustainable funding, engaging parents, fundraising… but I am constantly surprised at how well everything is going.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Chicago Arts Project – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Chicago Arts Project is an El Sistema orchestra. El Sistema is a music teaching ideology that comes from Venezuela that focuses on music education not only on the learner but on the larger community. It always offers instruction at no cost and attempts to improve the community by bringing children and families out of poverty. It places a heavy emphasis on peer-to-peer teaching (where students teach each other), community performances, and a high level of artistry and rehearsal intensity.
There are several El Sistema orchestras in Chicago, in some of the most difficult neighborhoods. I have been asked what sets Chicago Arts Project apart from them and my answer is our focus on social justice. As a child, I was very aware of problems going on in the world around me. I watched the news with my parents and heard things when we were at the grocery store. I never felt like I could do anything about it or like adults valued my opinions. As a teacher, I want to empower my students to make a real difference in their community. A lot of Sistema organizations say they are community-focused, but when pressed for details, don’t have a lot to back it up. I want to ask my kids what matters to them, who they want to help, and how they want to use music to do it. I see that coming to fruition in music videos, outdoor concerts in public spaces, interviews of family members and communities, and student compositions. I want to engage my students in their communities so that their music goes beyond a practice session and begins to change their lives and the lives of those around them.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Chicago and consider it my home. That’s coming from someone who’s moved 19 times and lived in 8 different states! I love the cultural diversity of the neighborhoods, the live music, the incredible outreach organizations, and I love how almost everyone you meet LOVES their city. There aren’t many Chicagoans that have a lukewarm opinion.
I don’t like the violence. It breaks my heart to hear of the shootings that happen every day and what’s worse is that we become immune to it. I have worked at the same elementary school for three years and have experienced four shootings that have caused lockdowns. No one should have to grow up in that kind of fear.
Contact Info:
- Address: Breakthrough FamilyPlex
3219 W Carroll Ave,
Chicago, IL 60624 - Website: chicagoartsproject.org
- Phone: 515-865-50807
- Email: lindsayfredrickson@chicagoartsproject.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chicagoartsproject/
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
