Dear Music Student Community—

The events on Saturday at 26th and Nicollet—the murder of Alex Pretti and before him, Renee Good, as well as the shooting of Sosa Celis—are tragedies that defy explanation. They have shaken our Cities, and left many of us questioning our sense of safety.

When I was your age, growing up in the 1980s and early ‘90s, I faced my share of minor major news events like the Challenger explosion, a couple of stock market crashes, Desert Storm. But all of it felt far away. I was out of college when 9/11 happened. In so many ways, I was sheltered.

What you are living through right now—the pandemic, the murder of George Floyd, and now this very unnecessary and unfortunate invasion of ICE—is beyond anything I could have imagined at your age.

I am truly in awe of your tenacity, courage, and spirit. To me, you are the greatest generation.

Please don’t give up—on yourselves or on each other. No matter what happens, music will always keep us connected. It’s something we can turn to, no matter how hard things get. It will always be here for us.

I am here for you, too. If you need to talk, reach out. And if you or your family are being affected by ICE intimidation—if you need financial help, or if there’s anything you’ve lost access to because of a recent ICE disruption—please let me know. I have access to resources that can help, and if I don’t have what you need, I will do everything I can to find it.

Take care of yourselves and each other.