March 24, 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, concludes its cycle of four concerts with “Comedian’s Gallop,” an exploration of the percussion section on April 24, 25 and 26 hosted at three Portland-area elementary schools. The 30-minute concerts, several of which have already sold out at Witch Hazel Elementary, Peninsula Elementary and Lent Elementary, feature Symphony musicians who will introduce students to the many sounds of the percussion 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 March, over 2400 students from 52 different schools attended the performances. In this concert, Symphony percussionists Chris Perry, Tom Sessa and Gordon Rencher, with narrator Amy Haroldson, will demonstrate how the various instruments of the percussion section can create exciting sound effects that make an ordinary story come to life. The music featured in this concert includes “The Comedian’s Gallop,” arranged for percussion trio, “G-Force,” a work featuring the snare drum and a musical retelling of the children’s story “The Enormous Turnip.” Haroldson will narrate the story, in which each character is represented by a different sound effect, accompanied by the trio.
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 on throughout the cycle and school year in the students’ classroom lessons,” Smith adds.
“Comedian’s Gallop” will be performed on Monday, April 24, at 9 and 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at Witch Hazel Elementary in Hillsboro; the 12:30 concert is sold out. The concert will repeat at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 25, 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, April 26, at Lent Elementary in southeast Portland; the 10:30 concert is 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, and they are open to anybody 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.
