Harmony Amidst the Ashes: How a Flute Bag Became a Symbol of Hope

1. Harmony Amidst the Ashes: How a Flute Bag Became a Symbol of Hope In a sudden turn of fate, a devastating house fire claimed everything Moriah held dear. Yet, amidst the ashes, there emerged a story of resilience and an unlikely hero – an Altieri instrument bag that safeguarded her cherished musical possessions. This humble bag, marked with soot and fire repellent, emerged as the sole survivor, preserving Moriah’s beloved flute and piccolo, along with her sheet music and books. Before this trial, Moriah’s life had been intertwined with music, a journey that began when she first cradled a flute at the age of 10. When Moriah first picked up her mother’s old flute, her eyes lit up with excitement. And from the first notes she played, she breathed new life into the old flute. Moriah studied flute as part of the wonderful band program and began taking private lessons with her mother’s first flute teacher, extending and deepening our bonds that make a flute family. Her musical spirit bloomed, evident in her early performances and her profound connection to her instrument. Her journey, rich with achievements and accolades, unfolded through her involvement in various bands, competitions, and prestigious

2. performances, with highlights including All-State, Disney World, Universal Studios, and Washington DC in the Cherry Blossom Parade. There has always been one constant throughout Moriah’s journey as a musician, something that has always been by her side like a trusted travel companion, keeping her most treasured possessions safe. That is her Altieri instrument bag. Moriah got her first Altieri bag in middle school when she began attending summer music programs. She kept it for years, throughout her experiences in high school and college including her performance at the legendary Carnegie Hall with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble as the principal piccolo player. The bag stayed with Moriah through numerous concerts at Rhode Island College, including her concerto performance of the Chaminade Concertino. While commuting by train and subway everyday from Providence, RI to Cambridge, MA where she was pursuing her Masters Degree in flute performance at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, Moriah realized she had outgrown her first Altieri and knew it was time to upgrade to a newer, bigger bag with optional backpack straps. However, her original bag was in such great condition – it withstood the years in such sound condition that she passed it on to one of her students who didn’t have a bag for her instruments. Moriah has always been a caring and generous teacher in this way; her students have always looked up to her as a positive role model and friend.

3. After graduating from Longy, Moriah continued to play in the community band, The Rhode Island Wind Ensemble as the principal piccolo player and is also now the Vice President of the group. She has been featured as a flute soloist on several concerts. She began teaching private flute lessons after graduating from Longy School of Music in 2012 and eventually established Moriah Ramos Flute Studio. Moriah is the music director as well as the director of summer programs at The Pennfield School in Portsmouth, RI, where she teaches preschool through 8th grade music, band, multimedia music, chorus, and runs the instrumental lesson program after school; she is passionate about sharing her knowledge and love of music with others. In fact, because of being raised by a single mother who worked two jobs to provide private lessons, Moriah’s mission as a music teacher is to make high-quality music lessons accessible for everyone. However, a recent tragedy interrupted her momentum – a devastating house fire on Oct 17th, 2023. She is safe but lost everything including her beloved cat, Ripple, and Fluffernutter the bunny. They were her biggest fans. Ripple would sit on the piano during music lessons that Moriah taught at her flute studio and would enjoy listening to all the students play. After the nightmare, the policeman told Moriah’ mother, “Moriah and her fiancé are very lucky to be alive!” On that horrible day she lost all of her possessions. Everything that is, except for her reliable Altieri flute/piccolo bag and its contents. It is an amazing testimony to how well it protects the treasured contents of the bag. It was the only item given to her by the firemen. The bag was covered with soot and fire repellent but she looked at it like a family member was found. When she opened the case she actually yelled out “Altieri saved my instruments!” Even the sheet music and books were undamaged. She cried with happiness. Everyone, even the firemen, was amazed that the flutes were unharmed. When Moriah brought her instruments to be assessed by the manufacturer, they were impressed by the fact that the instruments did not smell like smoke at all. The only thing the wooden piccolo required was cleaning and oiling. “It isn’t just a bag, it’s a guardian. Thank you, dear Altieri bag, you were a

4. good and faithful friend, protecting until the end. We will never forget you.” As Moriah and her fiancé began the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from scratch, the flute community is rallying around them. Flute World and Altieri, recognizing the importance of the Altieri bag in Moriah’s story, came forward to replace her cherished bag. The support extends beyond the tangible, as the flute community and friends of Moriah contribute to a GoFundMe campaign to help them get back on their feet. The story of Moriah’s resilience is not just a tale of a bag that survived a fire; it is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a musician. It is a story of someone who, in the face of unimaginable loss, found the strength to carry on, to rebuild, and to continue making music. It is a story of a community that came together to support one of its own, demonstrating the power of solidarity and empathy. The survival of Moriah’s instruments within the Altieri bag symbolizes hope. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the flame of passion and the love for one’s craft can endure. Moriah’s dedication to music remains unshaken, her resolve unbroken. She carries with her the memories of her past performances, the lessons she has learned, and the dreams she still hopes to achieve. The Altieri bag, with its scars and soot-covered exterior, now serves as a symbol of Moriah’s strength and determination. It is a tangible representation of her journey, from the early days of learning to play the flute to the heights of her

5. musical career. It is a testament to the power of music to heal and to connect people, transcending the boundaries of language and culture. Moriah’s story is a reminder that tragedy can strike at any moment, and yet, the human spirit has the capacity to rise above adversity. It is a testament to the resilience of the human soul and the enduring power of music to inspire, to heal, and to bring people together. In Moriah’s story, we find hope, courage, and the unwavering determination to create harmony out of chaos. ● written with Terrie Ramos, Moriah’s mother To help, please consider donating to the GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b5bae151