24 georgia music news / fall 2015
During an 1893 visit to the United States, Czech composer Antonín Dvořák said, “The future music of this country must be founded upon what are called the African-American melodies.” His words were visionary, as many American and immigrant folk music traditions would find their way into the foundations of our greatest orchestral music creations. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and ASO Assistant Conductor Joseph Young will engage students as analytical listeners as they explore where we come from and how our musical roots have shaped who we are as Americans. A curriculum guide accompanies each program, and all field trips are designed to support Georgia curriculum standards. There is not a group minimum for the Concerts for Young People, and special Title One school rates are available. Additionally, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra offers a limited amount of funding to help public schools bridge field trip funding gaps. Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and schools are asked to provide as much funding as possible to help the ASO serve as many schools as possible. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra continues to provide many wonderful opportunities for families to enjoy and participate in programming designed specifically with them in mind. Under the baton of ASO Assistant Conductor, Joseph Young, the ASO’s Family Concert Series begins with a performance of Halloween Hijinks! at 2pm on Saturday, October 31, 2015. On Sunday, February 14, 2016 at 3pm, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform a FREE Valentine’s Day Concert, Be Mine, as a part of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Family Fun programs on Sunday afternoons. The final Family Concert of the season, Musical Story Time with the ASO, will be held at 3pm on March 20, 2016. All performances in the Family Concert series are held in Atlanta Symphony Hall.
Throughout the 2015-16 season, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Music for the Very Young program offers professional musical performances designed specifically for early learners (children ages 3-5 years old) and their parents. Audiences of this nature can enjoy up-close and intimate performances that encourage them to go beyond their visual senses and explore how to become active listeners of live classical music through Stories in Sound. This series of performances introduces the audience to a variety of contrasting musical elements brilliantly interwoven with storytelling techniques to create a unique, interactive musical journey. Tickets for these performances will be available through the Box Office and on our website beginning in August, 2015. Finally, along with their many stage performances, the musicians of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra also bring their music into Atlanta communities. Through Musicians in Communities, orchestra members present solo or chamber performances in local libraries, schools, hospitals and cultural centers throughout the city. If you are interested in hosting an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra musician in your school or community, email us at ASOEducation@woodruffcenter.org . Each year more than 40,000 students and teachers are touched by Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concerts designed to inspire students in music and other academic pursuits. Let this be your year to experience all The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Center for Music Education has to offer.
Tammy Hawk
Tammy Hawk is a senior level marketing and public relations professional who has more than 25 years experience helping consumer brands and non-profit organizations engage key audiences with strategic messaging and creative content. Hawk recently joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra as Director of Communications. Prior to joining the Atlanta Symphony, Hawk led the strategic communications planning and program development for some of the country’s most well-known brands as a senior leader at Weber Shandwick, Chicago. During her tenure, Hawk’s clients included Motorola Mobility, Oscar Mayer, Nestle Pizza Division, Unilever, Allstate and Groupon. She also played an integral role in the successful launch of Namaste Charter School, an innovative public charter school on Chicago’s under-resourced Southwest side, which introduced a groundbreaking education model that combines health and wellness with academic rigor.