Butler Co. Symphony Orchestra continues outreach program with local schools
For the fourth year, the Butler County Symphony Orchestra is partnering with local school districts to present unique educational outreach programming to students.
“What Makes Music American?” is a musical assembly featuring the works of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein and other American composers.
The concept and accompanying educational materials were written and developed by music director Matthew Kraemer.
“It's a presentation whose topic is American music. The program is geared toward elementary students,” said Connie Downs, the orchestra's marketing chairman.
Twenty five members of the orchestra will travel to the Butler, Slippery Rock, Karns City and Mars area school districts for the program that will be narrated by Kraemer.
“The program is about 30 minutes long and educational materials accompany the performance,” said Patricia Stagno, symphony association president and chairman of the educational outreach program.
Stagno said educational materials include a program description, composer biographies, a listening guide and links to YouTube videos and music clips of the pieces to be performed.
Stagno said, “Matthew Kraemer selects the program. He basically puts the program together. This shows American composers drawing upon European composers as well as diverse sources to create a uniquely American identity.
“Students will be introduced to various musical styles, as well as classical music, including ragtime, jazz, Latin and patriotic music,” said Stagno.
She added symphony members are already familiar with the works in the outreach program.
“They'll have one rehearsal and then they will put on the program,” she said.
There is no cost to any of the school districts for this program.
But Stagno said, “It costs $12,000 to $14,000 to put this program on. The symphony is looking for donors to support this educational outreach.”
She said the Butler County Symphony Orchestra has had the educational outreach program so students in Butler County have the opportunity to interact with guest artists and orchestra members.
“It started back in 2014 with the 'ABCs of Symphony,'” Stagno said. “It's so popular in fact, schools have contacted us to see if we were coming back.”
9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Chicora Elementary School with Sugarcreek Elementary School students brought in.10 a.m. Wednesday, Butler Middle School2 p.m. Wednesday, Mars Centennial School9:30 a.m., Nov. 3, Slippery Rock High School, the first of two concerts for elementary students brought to the school and one concert for high school studentsFor additional information on the program or to donate, contact the symphony office at 724-283-1402.
