February 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Kinderkonzerts, the popular ensemble-based series which provide an interactive first Oregon Symphony experience for children in kindergarten through second grade, continues on March 13, 14 and 15 hosted at three Portland-area elementary schools. The 30-minute concerts, several of which have already sold out at Peninsula Elementary, Lent Elementary and Witch Hazel Elementary, feature Symphony musicians who will introduce students to the different instruments in the brass family.
The Kinderkonzerts series is sponsored by Boeing and the Stimson-Miller Foundation, with further support from the Bank of America Foundation, Tektronix, the Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation, the U.S. Trust Foundation, the U.S. Bank Foundation and the Juan Young Trust.
At the last Kinderkonzert series, in January, over 2200 students from fifty different schools attended the performances. In the upcoming concert, trumpets Dave Bamonte and Steve Conrow, Principal Horn John Cox, Principal Trombone Aaron LaVere and Principal Tuba JáTtik Clark, with narrator Amy Haroldson, are joined by the letter “B” to present the boisterous buzzing sounds of the brass section with the music of Schubert, Bach, Strauss and Kabalevsky, along with favorite songs such as “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” “Do Re Mi” from “The Sound of Music” and the “Can Can” from Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld.”
The Kinderkonzerts series is tailored to provide young students
with a first-time Symphony music experience in an age-appropriate
format. “Taking the musicians out of the concert hall
and into schools allows for a more intimate environment
encouraging active participation
by students and musicians alike,” says Emilia Smith, Director
of Education and Community Engagement. “A cycle of
four concerts allows for a progressive introduction to basic musical
elements. Musical concepts introduced at one concert can
be reiterated and expanded throughout the cycle and school year
in the students’ classroom lessons,” Smith adds.
The schools chosen to host the Kinderkonzerts series were selected to serve diverse geographical and economic populations. “Lack of transportation is often a barrier to participation,” says Smith. “The locations of the host schools allow nearby students to walk and/or take public transportation to the concert, which removes the need to provide costly transportation.” In addition, she adds, these particular schools are committed to maintaining an arts curriculum of their own and are supportive of the Symphony’s education programs.
“Brought To You By the Letter B!” will be performed on Monday, March 13, at 9 and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Witch Hazel Elementary in Hillsboro. The concert will repeat at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, at Peninsula Elementary in north Portland; the 9:30 and 10:30 concerts are sold out. The concert series will conclude at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 15, at Lent Elementary in southeast Portland; the 9:30 and 10:30 concerts are sold out. Tickets are $2/per student and are free to students in the federal free and reduced lunch programs. All children are welcome to attend these concerts that are designed for children in grades K-2. Daycare programs and homeschoolers are encouraged to contact the department of Education and Community Engagement. For more information about Kinderkonzerts, contact the Symphony’s department of Education and Community Engagement at 503-228-4294, by email at educate@orsymphony.org, or visit the Symphony’s Web site at www.orsymphony.org.
