John Moon Reflects on Our Partnership with Haitian Musicians

We've all heard that music is the universal language, and it has been a great joy and privilege to be able to use this language in collaboration with Haitian musicians for 14 years. 
 
What began as a conversation in the rectory of St. Andre with Pere Walin about music and its ability to connect and empower people, grew into an annual summer music camp at St. Andre for students in Hinche and the surrounding area. As I became more familiar with the Haitian Episcopal Church and priests, as well as the music programs already in existence, such as Holy Trinity in Port au Prince, it became clear that we had interest and enthusiasm both from our Haitian friends and from St. Stephen’s students and parents. Using both instrument donation drives and summer music camp trips to Haiti, our school and students have been able to support music education by providing instruments for students to play and by traveling to teach, learn and share the gift of music with scores of young people. 
 
How did that conversation begin? St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, has been in partnership with St Etienne in Salmadere since 2003. The first year faculty and staff from St. Stephen's traveled to Hinche to meet Pere Max. The priest that followed him, Pere Walin, continued to build more partnerships in the Central Plateau, and St. Stephen's embraced the opportunity to partner with the new St. Etienne in Salmadere. I was a member of the first group from St. Stephen's that visited Hinche. From that first visit, the dream of providing music education to students, especially in the summer when there was no school in session, began to emerge. After more conversation with, and invitation from Pere Walin, I began to travel to Haiti on my own to teach lessons to several students that were identified as being very interested in learning string instruments. This is when we began to hand-carry donated instruments. 
 
It was quite clear after just a few trips that the limit on the number of kids who could be involved was determined by the number of instruments that were available. So began the instrument donation drives. We have collected hundreds of instruments of all kinds, and we have been able to mostly hand-carry them to Haiti. With more instruments, there were more students. What a joy it was to see little brothers and sisters of the first students sitting in the church pews waiting to grow up a little more and then get an instrument. Now after many years, we have worked with Haitian musicians in four locations: Hinche, Montrouis, Salmadere and St. Cecilia in La Plaine. 
 
What happens at music camp? Each morning, even before the roosters announce the new day, we are awakened by the joyful noise of students in the courtyard warming up on favorites such as “Amazing Grace,” their school song and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Group instruction helps beginning students learn their way around their new instruments. More experienced students have private lessons in addition to their work as an ensemble. As the week progresses, the excitement builds, and the final concert comes into focus. The last concert, usually to a full church and after the daily 6 p.m. summer rainstorm, is a treat for all. 
 
Each St. Stephen's student who has traveled with me has learned a lot about teaching and playing music, of course. Each student would also say they have learned much more — about communication, service and living in a different culture with different resources. St. Stephen's values our commitment to global community.
 
What does a student from St. Stephen's bring back from such a trip?
 
  • We get to see kids grow up over many years as they learn to make and share music.  
  • We get to meet families and to understand their circumstances.
  • We get to know some of both the needs and dreams of young Haitians.
  • We get to collaborate with other musicians across the country.
  • We connect with groups, such as Les Petits Chanteurs, and can work to support their efforts.
  • We can build things — most notably a school building for St. Etienne.
  • We see up close that material prosperity is not the complete measure of happiness.
  • We get to see that efforts large and small can make a difference in the lives of others. 
 
Yes, all the “we get to” items listed above are benefits to our students. But this partnership is a true exchange. We bring instruments, kids, supplies, labor, teaching knowledge, clothing, energy, enthusiasm and love from St. Stephen's in Austin to our friends in Haiti. What we leave with is more than words can express. But we keep trying!
 
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Address: 6500 St. Stephen's Dr., Austin, TX 78746
Phone: (512) 327-1213