Desamparados Music School Receives Midori
(Excerpt from an article appearing on Costa Rica's Ministry of Culture and Youth website)

In a rehearsal room full of students and parents, students of the School of Musical Arts in Desamparados received Midori on Tuesday June 23 as part of her undertaking to become acquainted with the work of the National Education System Musical (Sinem) in Costa Rica.

Midori was very pleased by the attitude and concentration of young people in the orchestra, saying, "I could not have imagined that after such a short time playing together, they would be able to play at such a level." She also reiterated that she was very pleased that the government was investing funds in the Sinem program of music education.

Sinem's director, Ricardo Vargas, noted that "the visit from this prominent personality in the music world validates what we do, not only because she is a genius of the violin, but because she is respected for her position as a music educator.

On the experience of having a musical guest of such international prestige, the director of the Desamparados School of Music, Miguel Peña, said he thought such visits lift the spirits of the children and motivate them by demonstrating that one can achieve success with study, effort and dedication.

He prepared the children for Midori's visit by telling them she was a great violinist, that it was an honor to welcome her to their school and that she came to listen and to observe what they had achieved. The students were highly motivated to play for her.

Peña reported that the orchestra currently rehearses three times a week for an average of seven to eight hours. In addition, there are instrumental lessons. The Orchestra of the Music School of Desamparados is composed of 150 youths, divided amongst the different instruments. In total the school has 375 students and the goal is to start next year with 450.

After Midori's visit, some of the children commented:
I think it was a very nice experience to meet Midori. I would like to be like her and to be able to practice five hours a day as she does. (Montserrat López Retana, 12, violin)

For me, Midori's visit has been inspiring, as she is a person who, despite not being very old, has had much experience. I want to be like her and to reach as high as she has. Because as she said, playing and being in concert is to feel good about yourself and I would like to do that. (Daniel Corrales, 12, clarinet)

Very nice because she taught us that we don't have to give up, I would have liked to have started playing the trumpet, as she did at the age of four, but I started at nine years and the truth is I love it very much. (Arias Jonathan Retana, 10, trumpet)