MVS Classical Connections with DPO

Tuesday, 29 September, 2009
Upper School Parents:

Peter Camm, Coordinator of the Fine Arts, shared with me the following “classical connections” with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra within the MVS community.

• Ross Williams, upper and middle school music teacher, will perform as one of the percussionists for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at 8:00 pm this Friday & Saturday, October 2 and 3 at the Schuster Center.

• Senior Sam Guggenheimer (on viola), Junior Sophia Hu (on violin), and Sophomore Lauren Yu (on viola) are members of the Dayton Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Their concerts are also at the Schuster Center on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 pm: December 6, February 7, & May 9.

For tickets to these concerts, go online to http://www.daytonphilharmonic.com/

• It should be mentioned that Peter Camm is beginning a three-year term as a Trustee on the DPO Board. He also serves as a member of their Education committee.

• In the Lower School, the Schools Partnering with Artists Reaching Kids (SPARK) is now in its third year. The SPARK program links orchestra programs with school curriculum, and in the process forges close and insightful relationships between musicians, students, and faculty. Musicians pair up with teachers to create lessons that integrate music across the curriculum. In addition to bringing music into the classroom, students from each grade will attend a special DPO chamber concert designed just for their grade level, with themes they’ll relate to. A DPO docent will meet with the students before the concert, and as an added bonus, the lead conductor will also visit with students.

Violist Colleen Braid will return to the kindergarten class and string bass musician Steve Ullery will again join the first grade. Percussionist Michael La Mattina will explore music and education with the second graders. Kristen Canova, bassoonist, will work with the third grade and Christine Anin, violinist, with the fourth grade.

MVS has participated in the SPARK Program since 2007.