Growing Cello Repertoire

On May 7, 2023, Cellists for Change presented a program in the Boulder Public Library’s Canyon Theater celebrating women and nonbinary composers. This concert featured CFC’s youth cello bands in collaboration with professional cellists Kari Clifton and Lee Griffith. We were honored that composers Lee Knight and Kari Kraakevik were also in the audience!

“Muchas gracias por todo tu trabajo y el de los compositores que han confiado sus melodías para ser interpretadas por este grupo maravilloso de violonchelistas! Eres impresiónate y tu trabajo es notable. Es evidente tu pasión, dedicación y esmero por ayudar a nuestres niñes que aún no se han visto representades como lo estás logrando tú con tu empeño y positivismo.

Thank you very much for all your work and that of the composers who have entrusted their melodies to be performed by this wonderful group of cellists! You are impressive and your work is remarkable. Your passion, dedication and dedication to helping our children who have not yet seen themselves represented as you are achieving with your determination and positivism is evident.”

~Damary, parent

On April 21, 2024, Cellists for Change presented our second concert at the Boulder Public Library. In honor of Earth Day, Protect Planet Earth featured the premiere of Sergio Marroquín’s cello trio Uwach Ulew (“nature” in the indigenous language of Quiche) alongside original poetry and photography of Denver-based artist Meca’Ayo.

Chase the Music is a nonprofit that creates and performs original musical gifts for children battling critical health conditions.

Cellists for Change first collaborated with Chase the Music in May 2022 to bring hope, strength, love and joy through music to Carlitos, a Boulder youth battling Leukemia. Kari Clifton wrote an original cello ensemble piece especially for Carlitos called Un Niño Imparable (The Unstoppable Boy). Community youth cellists joined Ms. Clifton to perform this special piece, as well as arrangements of some of Carlitos’ favorite songs by the bands Imagine Dragons and Queen. Carlitos, his family, and their friends and community from ELPASO (Engaged Latino Parents Advancing Student Outcomes) came together for a beautiful evening of heartfelt music, delicious food, and meaningful connection through play at the Junkyard Social Club.

“As a family we don't like to talk about cancer a lot, but because of your concert we saw the theme of cancer differently. Of course my son deserves a tribute and recognition for his effort and his will to live, and what better way than through music. The songs that you performed were the hope with which Carlos fought. Nothing stopped him. It taught us that we are all champions, each one in our own way.”

~Gaby Torres, Carlitos’ mom

Our second collaboration with Chase the Music was in December 2022 and 2023, when community youth cellists performed holiday concerts at the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children for youth too sick to go home for the holidays. Kari Clifton joined us again, writing Inside Your Heart to celebrate, support and bring joy to these children and their families during this incredibly difficult time in their lives.

“My goal was to write an empowering and loving reminder that home can be found in any place so long as you carry love in your heart. Although many of us go through seasons of feeling homesick and lonely, we can find great comfort in thinking of our family and friends and feeling the love we carry for one another in our hearts. Let this piece be a reminder for you that you are never alone, and you are so very loved!”

~Kari Clifton, composer

Our third collaboration with Chase the Music took place in January 2023, when CFC director Psyche Dunkhase joined Escuela de Cuerdas to perform Obertura de la Sonrisa (Smile Overture) by Sergio Marroquín for Guatemalan children undergoing cleft lip/palate surgery with the Iowa MOST medical mission in Huehuetenango.

“Everyone in attendance could see that the kids and their families were enraptured by the music. Some may never have had an opportunity before this to hear an orchestra. We believe that through service and building friendships—and this year this amazing concert—we help demonstrate to the kids how precious they are.”

~Thais Winkleblack, Iowa MOST volunteer

Our fourth and most recent collaboration will took place in March 2024, when we performed “Gustavo’s Quest” by Kari Clifton for Gustavo, a 12 year old in Boulder, CO with Type II Diabetes.

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In October of 2021, Cellists for Change collaborated with Kari Clifton, André O. Hoilette, Lee Knight, and Jae Wes for a performance that celebrated the voices and creativity of local Black artists. The concert featured the premiere of Seasons of Blight, a three-movement work co-written by Hoilette and Knight that dialogs with musical composition and poetry to engage the listener and raise their awareness of elements of Black life in American society. The concert also featured original improvisatory music performed by cellist/song-writer Jae Wes, original poetry read by poet/author André O. Hoilette, and two original cello ensemble works by cellist/composer Kari Clifton performed by youth cellists.

“The generation that these young cellists represent seem dedicated to bringing social, economic and environmental change to our future. I admire their passion and initiative for many causes that will make our world a kinder and better place.”

~André O. Hoilette, poet

In June of 2022, 2023 and 2024 Cellists for Change performed a program featuring LGBTQIA+ composers and highlighting queer identifying youth musicians for Lafayette’s annual Pride on the Plaza Celebration! In 2024, we also performed at Erie’s Pride celebration.

“Pride on the Plaza was a very memorable experience for me. Before, being queer and being a violinist were two separate things. I guess that this was the first time that I realized that I could be surrounded by two large parts of my identity at the same time. Everyone was so acceptation and sweet. Psyche Dunkhase is such a glorious, loving, accepting human and I loved working with her. I had such a wonderful time with this whole thing!”

~Aster Friesen-Nyx, age 12

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Open Heartland is an Iowa nonprofit dedicated to serving Latine immigrant families who have escaped violence, extreme poverty, and lack of access to educational and health resources for their families.

In the fall of 2020, Cellists for Change presented a series of six online concerts for Open Heartland’s youth. These concerts featured Boulder community youth cellists performing repertoire written by historically excluded composers, a guided art activity based on the music performed, and a reading of a culturally relevant children’s book accompanied by improvised music.

In December of 2022, Cellists for Change live-streamed a festive holiday concert for the Open Heartland community, featuring winter-themed original compositions by Kari Clifton, classic holiday favorites, and Christmas songs popular in Mexico and Central America.

“Our Open Heartland families live in isolation due to their undocumented status in this country and have never had the opportunity to hear classical music, especially performed by youth who look like them. We now have Latine students who are studying instruments in their elementary school music programs, inspired by their exposure to music through these concerts!”

~Deb Dunkhase, Open Heartland Director and Founder

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Play for the Vote is an initiative by world renowned cellist Mike Block that amplifies voter turnout through the power of music. The event organizes musical performances at polling locations across the country on Election Day with the goal of increasing voter turnout by providing a more positive voting experience and creating a sense of community. Cellists for Change has been a proud participant during the elections of 2020 and 2022.

“Play for the Vote was a great experience for me. It made me feel as though I could use cello as a way of advocating for what I believe in. I know music can connect people in a way that speaking won’t. It was empowering to know that I could make the event of voting a more memorable and impactful experience for people who came.”

~Flynn Johnson, age 19

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Cellists for Change has performed additional community concerts in collaboration with the Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition (CSPC), Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras (GBYO), Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence (SPAN), Pioneer Bilingual Elemntary School, and Thorne Nature Experience.