2021
2nd QUARTER NEWSLETTER
VIRTUAL YOUTH CONCERT Like many things this year, our Annual Youth Concert for students in grades 3-5 was not able to proceed “as usual.” We were delighted to partner with Northern Illinois University and Dr. Benjamin Firer to produce a Virtual Youth Concert that was recorded on April 16. RSO musicians served as principals and sat side-by-side NIU Philharmonic student musicians for an added educational layer.
The concert featured Carnegie Hall’s Link Up curriculum "The Orchestra Sings". Link Up is a special invitationonly partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. Teachers and students have been using the Link Up curriculum for this program during the school year to learn how melodies can make the orchestra “sing.” Since coming in person to a performance at the Coronado Performing Arts Center wasn’t possible, this interactive recorded concert was shared with area teachers thanks to the generous support of foundations and donors.
NIU's Dr. Firer conducted the performance at the invitation of RSO Music Director Steven Larsen. RSO Education Director Margo Stedman served as host, with NIU students Abria Shaw joining as a vocalist and Erin Kirby as a recorder model. This performance often serves as students’ first concert experience and provides them with the opportunity to apply the musical concepts they have studied. While we missed being able to perform for a live audience, we are grateful that we were able to provide the experience virtually at no cost to educators or students.
Thank you to our generous supporters for making this Virtual Youth Concert possible:
Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation William M. Miller Charitable Trust Endowed support from
Dick and Grace Leighton