Violist Margaret Gonzalez ’15 (Bachelor of Music in Performance) was awarded the Jefferson Award along with Steve Perdicaris for their work with Music Mission San Francisco (MMSF) which they began in 2015. She serves as the founder and artistic director for MMSF, which was modeled after El-Sistema, a free music program Gonzalez experienced growing up in Venezuela.
According to the MMSF website, the nonprofit music organization is an “after-school music education program that serves in San Francisco’s Mission District for underserved children.” It offers an array of choral, violin and cello classes from September through May. Several classes transitioned to virtual experiences when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
Gonzalez studied with Director of Chamber Music and Professor of Viola and Chamber Music Doris Lederer, Diploma, Curtis Institute of Music. She also worked with Professor Emeritus of Cello Clyde Thomas Shaw, M.M., who was her advisor.
“Margaret’s award demonstrates SU’s ability to reach out to the world and impart the education and values received at Shenandoah,” said Shaw.
Gonzalez is married to cellist Jeremiah Shaw ’11 (Bachelor of Music in Music Production & Recording Technology) and lives in Oakland, California.
Jefferson Awards Foundation
The Jefferson Awards Foundation is a nonprofit organization that “recognizes, inspires and activates volunteerism and public service in communities, workplaces and schools across America.” The American Institute for Public Service was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard.
Visit www.news.yahoo.com to read the news article and www.musicmissionsf.org to learn more.
