The Phoenix Symphony promotes music education, performance, and learning for music lovers of all ages. The following paragraphs offer a brief overview of our many programs.
Youth Education
The Phoenix Symphony's Youth Education activities provide opportunities for students and educators to experience live symphonic music - both in their schools and at Symphony Hall. The Phoenix Symphony's "Symphony for the Schools" and "Classroom Concert" programs are designed to provide an introductory and evolving concert experience for students. For 2006-07 the Symphony's Youth Education programs are exploring three themes tied to broader programming within the Symphony's overall concert schedule. These three themes-Musical Stories, Families in Music, and Lights, Camera, ACTION - will encompass three distinct educational trimesters.
Symphony for the Schools
The Phoenix Symphony's premiere education program "Symphony for the Schools" provides outstanding educational experiences for more than 30,000 students each year. These 45- minute daytime concerts and accompanying teacher resources have been developed using the Arizona State Arts and Academic Standards. For more information click here.
Whiteman Foundation Classroom Concerts
Serving the greater Phoenix area, The Phoenix Symphony Education Ensembles, including the String Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble, perform educational and entertaining Classroom Concerts in valley elementary and middle schools. Classroom Concerts inspire students to develop a deeper understanding of orchestral instruments, and the performances motivate students to become involved in school instrumental music programs. The String Orchestra, composed of 20 members of The Phoenix Symphony string section, has presented programs for the greater Phoenix area for nearly 30 years and has engaged students from all social and economic backgrounds. And, new for 2006-07, the Percussion Ensemble, Brass Ensemble and Woodwind Ensemble will perform throughout the valley - serving to develop student understanding of the orchestra's instrument families. For more information, click here.
One Nation
Now in its seventh year, "One Nation" creates opportunities for musical and cultural interaction between The Phoenix Symphony and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. This program enhances the fundamental music education programs of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community's elementary and high schools and builds relationships between Symphony musicians and students. Symphony musicians teach music lessons to students, and the program provides Symphony performances at the Salt River High School. For more information about the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Education Department, click here.
Armonía
Translated, "Harmony", this program is in partnership with Espiritu Community Development Corporation. In its third year, Armonía brings the performances and programs of The Phoenix Symphony together with the community of South Mountain Village in Phoenix in order to support a culture of music appreciation. Armonía also supplements the music education program of low-income NFL-YET College Prep Academy. A variety of activities have been planned for this season, including private instrument instruction for music students, community concerts, music workshops, and student tickets to Classics concerts in downtown Phoenix.
21st Century Community Learning Center After School Program
The Phoenix Symphony, along with nine other Valley arts organizations, participates in this innovative after-school arts education program in the Phoenix Elementary School District No. 1. Administered by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, this project establishes new and alternative pathways to meeting the state's standards in reading, writing, and mathematics with and through arts and academic assistance programs for underserved and low-income students. As one of nine participating Valley-area arts organizations, The Phoenix Symphony will alternate with the nine identified under-performing schools during the five-year funding cycle. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program is one of the provisions under the No Child Left Behind act signed in January, 2002. Funding for this program is awarded by the Federal Department of Education through the Arizona Department of Education.
Symphony Connections
This program, in partnership with Maricopa Community Colleges, presents Phoenix Symphony String Orchestra performances on community college campuses. These inspiring performances are educational in nature, and provide opportunities for students to interact with musicians. Other components include lecture-demonstration activities, and student tickets to Symphony concerts.
People's Pops Concerts
In collaboration with the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, The Phoenix Symphony each season presents a series of free Symphony concerts. Our 2006-07 concerts are on September 17, February 4, and May 13. Admission is free, but tickets are required - tickets can be picked up at any Phoenix Public Library location beginning 8 days prior to each concert.
"Musically Speaking" Pre-Concert Conversations
"Musically Speaking" pre-concert discussions begin one hour prior to every Classics concert (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, Friday mornings and Sunday afternoons). Using an informal half-hour format, our moderator interviews a guest artist or a member of the Symphony. The week's music is discussed, and the audience is invited to ask questions. This series of "Musically Speaking" Pre-Concert Conversations is free to all ticket holders for each respective concert.
Phoenix Symphony "Close-Ups" at Borders and Mountain View Presbyterian Church
This series of free lecture-demonstrations feature individual musicians from The Phoenix Symphony talking about their lives, background, and instrument. Each one-hour "Close-Up" includes a question & answer session. The Borders "Close-Ups" are held at Borders Books & Music (2402 East Camelback, Phoenix) and Mountain View Presbyterian Church (8050 E. Mountain View Rd, Scottsdale). The Borders evening series is sponsored by Borders Books & Music. The Mountain View morning series is presented by the Phoenix Symphony Auxiliary. For more information, click here.
Summer Radio Broadcasts on KBAQ
Each year, classical radio station KBAQ (89.5 FM) offers a summer-long encore of Phoenix Symphony concerts. Every Monday night at 7:00 p.m., from June into September, KBAQ broadcasts a full-length Classics concert from the previous season. KBAQ's music director Sterling Beaff is the series host and announcer, leading you through these live concert recordings from Arizona's only full-time symphony orchestra.
Community Ticket Programs
The Phoenix Symphony is committed to making our musical performances available to as many people as possible. Money-saving offers include our annual season subscription ticket packages, as well as a range of student, senior, and group discount programs.
For additional information on these or other Education & Community Programs, please contact the Education Office at 602-495-1117 x470, or education@phoenixsymphony.org ************ The Phoenix Symphony would like to thank the following generous sponsorships and support of our Education and Community Programs:
Anonymous American Express APS Arizona Commission on the Arts Arizona 5 Arts Circle The Arizona Republic Charities Bank One, a JP Morgan Chase company Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Dorrance The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Diana S. Ellis Foundation Employers Dental Services Ford Motor Company Fund Fry's Food Stores City of Glendale and the Glendale Arts Commission Glendale Civic Pride Ambassadors Goodman-Klein-Pinckney Family Foundation Harold and Jean Grossman Family Foundation The Harris Bank, N.A. William Randolph Hearst Foundation The Lodestar Foundation The Lund Foundation Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation The Medtronic Foundation City of Mesa E. Nakamichi Foundation National Endowment for the Arts PacifiCare Foundation City of Phoenix Civic Plaza Dept. Parks, Libraries, and Recreation Dept. Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture Phoenix Suns Prudential Financial Group Foundation Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Community Benefits Fund SRP Dr. Scholl Foundation Scottsdale League for the Arts and The Arizona Republic Southwest Gas Corporation Target City of Tempe Wallace Thomas Foundation Wells Fargo The Whiteman Foundation Mrs. Mary L. Zicarelli
