oregon symphony: education programs not dead

In response to inquiries that resulted from David Stabler’s article about the suspension of the OSO’s widely lauded Community Music Partnership program, the symphony’s development department released the following statement of clarification:

To our Foundation and Government Supporters:

Last week, this article ran in the Oregonian (see link to the story, below) by David Stabler, which caused some concern that the Oregon Symphony might be eliminating its music education programs.  I am writing to assure you that the Oregon Symphony’s core education programs, which serve over 30,000 students annually, are still very much in place.

The Oregonian article describes the rural “Community Music Partnership” program, which the Oregon Symphony has offered for the past seven years, made possible by generous grants from the Roseburg-based Ford Family Foundation.  When we learned that the Ford Family Foundation would no longer be able to fund the Community Music Partnership, which provides an in-depth music education experience over a two-year period to communities with populations of less than 30,000, the Oregon Symphony decided not to initiate a partnership with a new community this season.  We are committed to completing the partnership with Tillamook, begun in 2008.  The 2009/10 Partnership in Tillamook is funded through a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission’s Arts Learning program and possible additional funding from the Ford Family Foundation and another foundation.

Oregon Symphony Education Programs for 2009-2010 season :
We continue to offer age-appropriate music education programs serving pre-schoolers through adults.
Symphony Storytimes for pre-schoolers and their families, offered at Multnomah County Libraries (and new this year, also available at two Washington County libraries);
Kinderkonzerts for students K-2nd grade: 36 performances offered at elementary schools in SE Portland, N Portland, and Hillsboro;
Young People’s Concerts: “Team Oregon Symphony” for students in grades 3-6 explores how orchestra musicians work as a team.  Four concerts offered in Portland (Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall) plus two in Salem (Smith Auditorium, Willamette University)
Teachers guides and selected recordings complementing the Kinderkonzerts and Young People’s Concerts will be downloadable from our web site: www.OrSymphony.org.
Additionally, the Symphony will arrange for ensemble performances, “informances” or “instrument petting zoos” by orchestra musicians on request.

Educators and students are eligible to receive discounted tickets for Oregon Symphony performances, and all are encouraged to come one hour early to Classical concerts to hear “Concert Conversations” for lively discussions with our conductors and musicians about the evening’s programs.  Moderated by All Classical FM hosts, these conversations are taped and may be viewed on the web site: www.allclassical.org beginning the Sunday morning of each concert weekend.

Community Music Partnership:
The Symphony will complete the second and final year of the partnership with Tillamook.

We have long wanted to bring the Community Music Partnership model to our own home, the Portland metropolitan area.  If new funding can be secured, the Oregon Symphony proposes to adapt the Partnership model to serve schools in the tri-county area with the same in-depth residency programs, using Oregon Symphony as well as local resources to address the greatest music education needs as identified by the schools.  The Oregon Symphony is a partner in the Right Brain Initiative and the Creative Advocacy Network.

For more information about Oregon Symphony education programs, check out our web site: www.OrSymphony.org/edu or call the Symphony office: 503 228-4294.