“Founded in 1936, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra is a pillar of Charleston’s rich cultural heritage. The CSO also serves an integral role in educating Lowcountry students,” states an unsigned article in Friday’s (9/4) Moultrie News (South Carolina). “ ‘Music education is as fundamental to the orchestra as performing itself,’ said Michael Smith, the CSO’s executive director. … ‘Every full-time symphony musician is required to dedicate one-third of their time to music education.’ The CSO will launch its first Education Week on September 16, which marks the beginning of a year-long curriculum-based music education program in the Tri-County area. During Education Week … six chamber ensembles will visit as many as 45 schools with the goal of exposing students to music and forming connections to other subject areas.… With the launch of Education Week comes the start of a new education curriculum created by Janice Crews, the CSO’s director of education and community outreach [and] a former teacher and professional oboist…. The curriculum, which includes professional development for teachers, uses classroom instructional time to explore concert repertoire and make curriculum connections. The CSO smaller ensembles perform in the schools, and that experience culminates at the Young People’s Concerts with the full orchestra.”
Posted September 8, 2015
