MUSIC IS...
The White Mountains Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to promoting music through our performances in the White Mountains. As part of our mission, we are also dedicated to educating the youth of our community as well as the average concert attendee. To help us in this mission, we have established a few programs to further the understanding of classical music.
1) Through our youth education program, “Music Is…”, we treat about 2,200 4th and 5th grade students to a free concert every March. These concerts are fun and interactive and give students a chance to see a live orchestra, learn concert etiquette, and meet the musicians that work to give them music.
2) Pre-concert talks are given 20 minutes prior to every concert. This gives Maestro Bailey-Dick the opportunity to share her thoughts on the music and help the audience better understand the nuances of the music. It is also an opportunity for the audience to ask any questions they may have pertaining to the concert or the symphony.
3) Our community education page offers general information about the orchestra, musical terms and upcoming composers and pieces.
About Music Is...
“Music Is…” was the concept developed by Kevin O’Connell in the fall of 2002. He brought his proposal to a meeting of the Musical Arts Club held in the home of Pam and Randy Fox, both members of the symphony and the White Mountain Musical Arts Club.
The name “Music Is…” was selected by a vote of members at the next Musical Arts Club meeting, held in the home of Diana Born. Leburta Crockett and Cynthia Jellison met with Carolyn Morrow shortly after that, to create some guidelines for teaching fourth grade students some basic music education and in addition be a beginning of interest in good music.
“Music Is…” has the ellipsis at the end to allow each student the opportunity to finish the statement and develop in his or her own mind what music Is…(dreamy, exciting, soothing, fun, et cetera). The first program was for fourth grade students only, and was developed to include any student in Apache County and Navajo County, Arizona. Concert manners were especially spelled out, since most of these children had never been to a live symphony concert.
The first program was held in March of 2003, and it explored what music means to each individual. Each person may hear things differently, and it is all right to have different likes and dislikes. Various instruments were featured, and members of the orchestra were in the foyer and aisles at the first concert to allow students to see up close, and touch musical instruments.
Show Low School District has been extremely accommodating and helpful with the concerts. Norlis McKay, superintendent at the time of the first concert, asked the school board to approve lunches for the musicians since there were two concerts. The district has donated and served lunches to the musicians at each of the concerts since the beginning concert.
- Care of Carolyn Morrow |
