To that end, Bruce explains how his Spice Route Ensemble has created a feeling of connection and security for some of his students. “We have received letters from students of Middle Eastern origin telling us that they were able to relate to us in a very personal way, and in many ways we made them feel safer. They tell us that a song we did was a song their mother sang to them or was something they learned in Hebrew school.  There’s a sense of connection outside of their community, or outside the safety of their family.” 

 

This sense of understanding is another reason why Bruce recieved the INSPIRE Award. Over the years, Bruce has met students with a true talent – a “diamond in the rough” as he puts it.  He really stays on top of the school administration to make sure the student is getting the help and attention he or she needs to further their talent.  But for Bruce, it’s not only about those kids with the exceptional musical talent.  Bruce gives just as much attention to those students for whom music may not ultimately be a career but can still be life-changing in other ways. He explains that sometimes there are students who have one foot in a “street” environment, and another foot in an “academic” environment. “Music is sometimes enough to nudge them towards that ‘academic’ environment, where they feel that ‘I can do this,’” says Bruce. “Not in a concert musician kind of way, but they realize that, ‘if I can do it, I can do other things, too.’”

 

Bruce is also grateful to Musicopia for employing musicians as Teaching Artists.  “Some people think that the payoff for musicians is their love of playing music. But most folks don’t do things only because they enjoy doing it – they expect to get paid for it too.  So I appreciate the work, and I appreciate that Musicopia puts other musicians to work,” said Bruce. “Musicopia employs world-class musicians. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the artist, Musicopia and the students.  It’s a win-win-win situation.” Bruce explains that one of his greatest joys in working with Musicopia is that he gets to provide a service to the students, because he remembers being in their position.  He knows what it is like to be them, and he remembers how significant music was to him in helping him along.

 

Denise Kinney, Musicopia’s Executive Director said, “Bruce was the first bass Teaching Artist my mom, Welthie Fitzgerald, hired for Musicopia. He had it all, and she couldn’t have made a better choice! He is immensely talented musically, and understands from his own experience how music can change a child’s life. He is personally committed to doing his best to help children find their strengths through the arts, and we are fortunate to have him as a friend and ally of Musicopia.”