Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GREENSBORO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
200 North Davie Street, Box 10
Greensboro, North Carolina 27401
336-335-5456
September 3, 2008
Contact:
Lisa Crawford (336)335-5456 X 222
Sheila Cauthen (336)335-5456 X 227
OrKIDStra Series opens on September 20, 2008
at Triad Stage
Whoever said that classical music audiences are graying? Not in Greensboro. Greensboro Symphony Orchestra (GSO) presents the third season of its popular OrKIDStra concert series for young children at the Triad Stage in downtown Greensboro. The three-concert Saturday-morning series is geared towards children ages 3 to 5. Last year’s concerts were sold out and a second performance of each program has been added. The 2008-2009 season will feature “Fairytales” on September 20, “Drum and Dance” on February 14, and “Zoological Fantasy” from Carnival of the Animals on April 4.
Giving children the chance to fall in love with classical music is not a new idea. “We wanted to expand on the idea of young people’s concerts by offering an age-appropriate concert series to families of younger children,” says Lisa Crawford, the Symphony’s President and CEO. “We hope parents and grandparents will find the OrKIDStra concert series a rich introduction to musical concepts and instruments of the orchestra..” The experience features hands-on activities with early childhood music teachers followed by a concert performed by musicians from the orchestra and additional narration to guide the children in listening to the music. Crawford has observed “the children are really attentive, which speaks to the power of an engaging listening musical experience at any age.”
Participating in pre-concert activities provided by local children’s music studio Gate City Musikgarten gives OrKIDStra participants a chance to relate to the musical themes they will hear in the concert part of the experience. Each of the three levels of Triad Stage’s lobby will feature a Musikgarten “station” where children will engage in rhythmic and singing activities. Children will learn new songs and be introduced to musical concepts of rhythm and melody. All of the teachers involved in the OrKIDStra pre-concert stations are Triad-area Musikgarten teachers who teach a sequential curriculum with a focus on developing children’s natural “musical ears” and listening ability through music and movement.
Following 20-30 minutes of pre-concert music-making activities, including singing, dancing, and playing simple instruments, families will enter the auditorium for the 20-minute concert part of the experience. Each concert is carefully designed to introduce the children to new instruments and a specific musical experience, featuring collaborations with actors and other artistic groups. This year’s September concert, Fairytales, by the American composer William Bolcom, will feature members of the string family – viola, cello and bass. Actors from the Community Theatre of Greensboro will participate in this musical interpretation of familiar fairytales including “The Fisherman and His Wife,” “The Frog Prince,” and “The Hare and the Hedgehog.”
In 2009, the February concert will feature the percussion section of the orchestra in many styles of music, including West African and ragtime. The Symphony will collaborate with the North Carolina Dance Project and several of their dancers for the concert. Carnival of the Animals, the feature of the April concert, is a popular piece of classical music by French composer Camille Saint-Saens. Parents and children will recognize some of the short sections of this piece of music, each of which musically represents a different animal or environment. Some of the most famous movements include “The Swan” and “Aquarium.”
Symphony Education Director Peter Zlotnick believes that becoming familiar with classical and other styles of music through the OrKIDStra series will give children an experience that will broaden their attitudes towards music. “Children at this age are magnets for musical experience. By introducing them to complex music that is fun and accessible, we give them a lifelong interest in participating and listening to classical music.”
Want to go?
Triad Stage at The Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, North Carolina
Three-concert subscription series on sale now.
Call 336-335-5456 ext. 223.
Shows: 9:45 a.m. and 11:30 A.M.
Saturday, September 20
Saturday, February 14
Saturday, April 4