Violinist Corinne Auger receives Alumni Leadership Grant

“I strive to be an artist who serves everyone, not only those who are already familiar with classical music and those who can afford expensive concert tickets.” Corinne Auger, 2018 From the Top Alumni Leadership Grant recipient

(L to R): Music Lens Co-Founder Didier Lucceus, members of Music Lens’ summer programs in Boston, and Co-Founder and From the Top Alumni Leadership Grant recipient Corinne Auger

19-year-old Corinne Auger is the co-founder and Executive Director of Music Lens, a free, summer music program for elementary school children in Boston, Massachusetts and Cleveland, Ohio. Auger joined From the Top’s Boston area Center for the Development of Arts Leaders (CDAL) at the age of 16, where she led teaching residencies in local schools for 3 consecutive years. While in CDAL, she teamed up with fellow musician Didier Lucceus to found Music Lens. Auger is a sophomore at the Cleveland Music Institute, pursuing a degree in violin performance under the tutelage of Jan Mark Sloman. She appeared on NPR’s From the Top with the New England Conservatory Youth Philharmonic Orchestra in 2015.

“It was a great pleasure working with Corinne in CDAL and seeing her grow and evolve as a musician, teacher, and leader,” said Shea Mavros, Director of Education and Community Outreach at From the Top. “She and Didier are making a tremendous difference in their communities, offering programs to instill a love of music in young people. I look forward to continuing to support her efforts as she deepens and expands Music Lens.”

About Music Lens

Music Lens is a free summer program that introduces elementary school students to classical music. It is available to any incoming second, third, or fourth grader, though the program particularly seeks to partner with communities underrepresented in classical music – specifically black and Latino children – as well as families who experience financial barriers to music education. No prior musical experience is required.

“Fifty-two percent of Cleveland’s children live below the poverty line, and their families have trouble affording specialized and thoughtfully-planned summer programming. There are no free programs in Cleveland that teach classical music to kids who would not otherwise learn about it, and we aim to fill that gap,” said Auger.

“Our goal is not to be evangelists of one type of music, but rather to spend a week creating a loving and exciting community centered around the discovery of an art form that all our teachers love. We focus on developing our students’ skills in approaching and enjoying any music that is new to them so that they will have more to enjoy after the camp is over.”

The From the Top Alumni Leadership Grant will help support the expansion of Music Lens, which began in Boston, to Cleveland. Co-founder Didier Lucceus will run the 2018 Boston sessions, while Auger will launch the Cleveland sessions.

The From the Top Alumni Leadership Grant is funded by the Howard and Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation, with additional support from the Karma for Cara Foundation.