esperanza spalding, Grammy Award-Winning musician and CMC alum, came by the Center in August for the first time since she studied here as a child in the late 1980s. 

Esperanza talked with staff, walked through the Center, reminiscing about her time here, and observed and talked to a student chamber group led by instuctor Ryea Hertafeld (photo below).

Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, spalding began playing music professionally in her childhood, performing as a violinist in the Chamber Music Society of Oregon at age five. She was later both self-taught and trained on other instruments, including guitar and bass. Her proficiency earned her academic scholarships to Portland State University and Berklee College of Music, both of which she attended, studying music.

Unforrtunately the Wikipedia article about her leaves out the Community Music Center, but otherwise you can learn more about her and the steps she took that lead to her success at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanza_Spalding.