Curtain up! Violins presented to students in Garges

In a ceremony on Wednesday, September 23, students at Victor Hugo school proudly represented the ten schools in Garges-lès-Gonesse that joined A violin can change the world as the new academic year began. In all, 35 new schools in Val d’Oise—a French département northwest of Paris—have joined our program this fall, and we presented the first violins in the municipal reception room in Garges.

 Guylène Mouquet-Burtin, a local representative of the French Education Ministry, joined Garges-lès-Gonesse Mayor Benoît Jimenez and Hélène and Pierre Vareille in welcoming the new students, their parents and their teachers.

 In strict compliance with public health guidelines, all adults wore masks except during their speeches. The children “officially” received their instruments and then enthusiastically posed for souvenir photos. A brief musical performance offered an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the beautiful sound of the violin—and an added inspiration to begin learning to play it at school.