In Sunday’s (1/6) Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Erin Richards writes, “Malik Johnson recalls being in second grade when his teacher suggested he might be a good fit for a youth symphony program and sent him home with a brochure. Like many kids in urban schools, Johnson’s exposure to musical instruments and formal music classes was minimal, so when leaders of the special program at the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra offered him the bass, he thought they meant bass guitar, rock ‘n’ roll style. … Six years later Johnson, 13, is a cellist in the youth orchestra’s second-highest performing group and on his way to becoming eighth-grade class valedictorian at Milwaukee College Prep … Ten years ago, Latino and black students made up about 5% of the orchestra’s elementary through high school students. Now they account for almost 30% of the approximately 900 players. … Key to expanding the orchestra’s reach into underserved urban communities has been the Progressions program, started in 2003. … From the start of third grade to the end of fourth grade, participants attend rehearsals three times a week and take private lessons. The tuition-free program is paid for by grants and offers transportation as well as mentoring support to children and their families.”
Posted January 8, 2013
