Songs, and a Place to Belong
Neumann Goretti’s orchestra boasts members
from Vietnam, Korea, Mexico, Liberia, and China.
Freshmen sit next to seniors. Football players trade
tips with mathletes. Some students don’t speak
English at all, relying on the music to find
common ground.
“It’s like a big family,” says Ka’Niyah Roten, a 10th
grade saxophone player. “No matter where you
come from, you are accepted.”
The trust-based approach fosters an atmosphere
in which students feel comfortable coaching
one another. Since skilled players sit alongside
beginners, participants share advice — in music, or
with more personal matters. It’s not uncommon for
the students to turn to peers for emotional support
and encouragement.
“If I walk into the orchestra room crying, I know
anyone in the room is willing to listen and help
me solve my problems, including Ms. Mello,” says
Angelina Cappetti, an 11th grade violin player. “I
feel like I can be myself around everyone here.”
“Everyone carries baggage,” Mello-Hemsley adds.
“It could be that you got made fun of on
6
the subway for speaking a different language. Or
you have a different skin color. Or you’re worried
you’ll never clear the glass ceiling. Or you’re
concerned you’ll get blamed for something you
had no part of. You come here, put your baggage
aside, and we all grow together.”
A Legacy of Compassion
To further that growth, Mello-Hemsley is looking
to expand the program with strategic partnerships.
The program is always in need of more instruments,
space, and musical specialists. And by building
connections with local colleges and Neumann
Goretti’s own entrepreneurship program, she can
help students secure sustainable careers in music.
Mello-Hemsley admits managing such a large
project is a major undertaking. But she’s passionate
about the program because she’s an example of
how the program can spark passion for music —
and even save lives.
“I grew up in South Philly under the poverty
line, with an incredible sense of pain from being
poor,” she recalls. “When I came to Goretti on
a scholarship and was asked what instrument