On Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, members of the Helena Symphony Orchestra opens this Season’s Education Concerts with a Symphony Kids program titled Getting FORMal with Mozart. Created for children ages 5 to 10, Symphony Kids is a free one hour concert for all children and their families. As one of the Symphony’s educational programs, Symphony Kids brings the power of live instrumental music into the hearts of children with specific concerts designed to introduce them to the world of music and instruments.
“Live instrumental music is a wonder to discover,” says Barb Berg, HSO Principal Flute and one of the creators of the program. “We are thrilled to invite children to hear fun, imaginative, and interactive performances by the Helena Symphony Orchestra musicians. This introduction of classical music to children becomes a friendship that lasts a lifetime.”
Performed in a more intimate setting, children get to enjoy up-close and personal performances meant to enrich and enhance the great music education in the Helena area. As the title suggests, Getting FORMal with Mozart will discover how music, specifically the music of Mozart, is created, and how composers actually use structure in order to organize their musical ideas. “The music of Mozart is wonderfully appropriate,” explains Assistant Conductor Breanne Cepeda. “As one of humankind’s youngest artists and geniuses, it allows children to connect with Mozart, who was writing full time by the age of 7.”
A chamber orchestra from the Helena Symphony Orchestra will perform well known moments from Mozart’s string serenade Eine kleine Nachtmuzik (A Little Night Music), his Symphony No. 35, and a set of variations on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” In addition, children get to take part in an “instrument petting zoo” sponsored by Piccolo’s Music at the end of the free one hour program.
“Education through music is a critical component of the Symphony’s mission, and we are thrilled to continue this program,” explains Music Director Allan R. Scott. “Last season nearly 2,000 people experience the Symphony Kids concerts, and we are expecting even larger audiences this year. We exist to bring music to the Helena region, and there is no better place to ensure our future with audiences of the future.”
The Helena Symphony invites children and their families to imaginative and interactive performances by the musicians of the Helena Symphony Orchestra.
The power and wonder of music lasts a lifetime!
SYMPHONY KIDS 1: Getting FORMal with Mozart
Saturday, 25 October 2014, 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
The musical genius of Mozart is well known, but did you know he starting composing at the age of 4? Learn about the childhood of this precocious musical master, and hear the music of music’s boy wonder.
SYMPHONY KIDS Concert 2: The Tortoise & The Hare
Saturday, 22 November 2014, 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Montana-noted music educator Barbara Berg narrates the exciting and imaginative fable of The Tortoise & The Hare, accompanied by members of the HSO.
SYMPHONY KIDS Concert 3: BOOM! POW! shh….
Saturday, 10 January 2015, 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
Loud is LOUD and soft is shh…. Join the HSO for an exploration on how volume in music can make all the difference.
SYMPHONY KIDS Concert 4: On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!
Saturday, 7 February 2015, 10:00 a.m.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
From Frozen’s “Let it Go” to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, all melodies have structure. Discover what is a melody, and why does it stick in our heads.
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An Instrument Petting Zoo follows the program (Sponsored by the generosity of Piccolo’s Music.)
Symphony Kids is supported in part by the generosity of Sidney E. Frank Foundation, the Kiwanis Club of Helena, and Target.