September 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Portland, Ore. … Volunteers from around the community with a love for music and children will be trained by the Oregon Symphony Education and Community Engagement staff on Saturday, Oct. 1 as music ambassadors for both the Symphony’s education programs and for general music education advocacy in the schools. The free volunteer training session will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.
The volunteers will visit schools throughout the tri-county area to promote all the Symphony’s K-12 education programs including the Kinderkonzert series, Young People’s Concerts and Young Adult Concerts in short presentations to teachers and other school staff. The volunteers will also advocate for music as an essential part of a well-rounded school curriculum. “We hope this personal connection between our volunteers and the schools will make the Symphony’s programs more accessible,” says Michael Kosmala, Vice President of Education and Community Engagement. Volunteers will target their efforts at schools that are not currently participating in Symphony programs, as well as schools that have participated in the past but are not involved at present. “Over the past four years we’ve put together a highly effective group of volunteers, made up of both current and retired teachers, students and community members with a passion for sharing music with students,” Kosmala explains. “The training we’re offering this time is extending the scope of their involvement with the Symphony to include a broader role as music education advocates.”
The Symphony usually holds two volunteer trainings a year, to recruit members of the community who will visit classrooms to prepare K-12 students for upcoming youth concerts. In response to requests from schools, this year both youth concerts will be held in the spring of 2006. This shift in schedule allows for greater volunteer involvement prior to the classroom visits. “With these expanded training sessions, we’re trying to tap into the expressed desire on the part of our volunteers to be more involved throughout the season,” Kosmala explains.
People interested in becoming an Oregon Symphony volunteer should contact the Oregon Symphony’s department of Education and Community Engagement at 503-228-4294 or via e-mail at educate@orsymphony.org for more information.
