“The therapeutic effects of music have been known for centuries, and the Central Ohio Symphony, housed right here in Delaware, happens to have a percussionist, Warren Hyer, as its executive director,” writes David Hejmanowski in Friday’s (3/6) Delaware Gazette (Delaware, Ohio). “Several years ago, at a conference, Hyer and his wife, April Nelson … participated in a drum circle workshop. They … set to work to bring alive a drumming project right here in our community,” receiving a grant through the Getty Foundation to fund the project. “The Delaware County Juvenile Court agreed to … have juveniles who are involved in the court’s Juvenile Treatment Court docket participate in the program as part of their treatment plans.” At the Central Ohio Symphony’s world premiere last weekend of Ben Goldberg’s work for orchestra and drumming circle, “Joining the orchestra on stage [were] the juveniles who have been a part of the program,” as well as Hyer, juvenile probation officers, and a juvenile court magistrate. “A third Getty grant has been awarded to allow the project to expand into the county’s adult courts.” Hejmanowski is the judge of the Probate/Juvenile Division of Delaware County Common Pleas Court and vice president of the symphony’s board of trustees. Central Ohio Symphony was one of 22 orchestras selected by the League of American Orchestras to receive 2014-15 Getty Education and Community Investment Grants. More information here.
Posted March 11, 2015
