Sarah Willner Education Fund
Sarah Willner was a long-time Gamelan Sekar Jaya (GSJ) ensemble member, whose impact on our community is only matched by her impact on the greater world of music educators. A specialist in culturally-relevant pedagogy and arts integration, Sarah worked for many years within the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD), where she mentored scores of teaching artists and touched the lives of generations of OUSD students. Her grit, artistry, and warm spirit deeply impacted countless community members.
Sarah was especially important to GSJ’s education programs. Sarah planned and facilitated several in-school residencies every semester, which placed Balinese guest artists in Title 1 Oakland schools. She organized lesson plans, trained dozens of local artist volunteers, and facilitated connections between Balinese master artists and many OUSD classrooms. In the last years of her life, Sarah would still light up as a 2nd grader played the reyong for the first time, or tried on a topeng dance mask. She is dearly missed.
To honor and sustain Sarah’s highly impactful legacy, Gamelan Sekar Jaya created a fund to ensure that our education programs continue to touch the lives of students. GSJ offers a robust, diverse program of educational opportunities, including artist residencies in local public schools, free performances in parks and libraries, and free or low cost public classes in Balinese music and dance at the GSJ Banjar in South Berkeley. These programs require adequate resources to function; however, government funding for arts programs like these has experienced significant cuts. The continuation of these programs now relies on the support of community members like Sarah, and community members like you.
Sarah was a respected mentor, a phenomenally gifted artist, and a dear friend. If your life was impacted by Sarah’s work, or if you too believe deeply in the power of accessible arts education, please consider making a contribution to the Sarah Willner Education Fund and ensure that her legacy continues for decades to come. Donate to support GSJ’s education programming in schools, libraries, and at the banjar by clicking the button below or mailing a check, payable to: Gamelan Sekar Jaya, 3023 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94705
Written by Jeffrey Gan. Photos courtesy of GSJ members and community.
