INDIANAPOLIS — Two musicians from the Indianapolis area, Pavel Polanco-Safadit and Leah Crane, are working to enhance music education for students in the Dominican Republic through an annual festival. The event, known as the 14th annual Music Ed Fest, is taking place in San Francisco de Macorís, a city in the northern part of the country.
This year’s festival marks a change in location, as it moves from previous years’ venues to focus on northern Dominican Republic. The event offers students a day of music education at a university campus, complete with transportation, meals, and instruction provided by music clinicians. Participants have the chance to develop their musical abilities and connect with academic institutions to pursue further educational opportunities.
Crane and Polanco-Safadit are also in discussions with a local university about the potential establishment of a technical program or two-year degree in music, which would be the first of its kind in San Francisco de Macorís. Currently, students in the area face limited options for college-level music programs, mostly available at three institutions located in the capital, Santo Domingo.
The initiative extends to outreach efforts in local schools. During a recent visit to an arts-focused institution, Polanco-Safadit engaged with students, motivating them to consider the festival and their future in music education.
Crane, who earned her music degree from Indiana University, sees her involvement as a way to give back and share her knowledge with young musicians. Meanwhile, Polanco-Safadit, originally from the Dominican Republic, recognizes the challenges that students encounter in accessing music education and aims to create more opportunities for them through collaborative efforts with his Indianapolis team.
During an outreach session at a rural school, the musicians found students performing merengue, a traditional genre. Many of these students were nearing high school graduation and uncertain about their next steps in musical pursuits. Polanco-Safadit mentioned facilitating connections with the National Conservatory of Music to help these students explore their options.
Emphasizing the importance of community engagement, Polanco-Safadit expressed his commitment to helping students identify pathways for their education. Through their participation in Music Ed Fest, Crane and Polanco-Safadit aim to support young performers in honing their talents and accessing educational resources that may be otherwise insufficient.
