“The Santa Barbara Symphony has announced its continued partnership with the Santa Barbara Unified School District to present BRAVO!, the popular after-school music education program,” writes Gerry Fall in Wednesday’s (2/17) Santa Barbara News-Press (CA). “This year, the free program is being offered virtually to fifth- and sixth-grade students.…. BRAVO! was developed five years ago to supplement the district’s in-school music programs by offering two additional, free music lessons each week. Students work with school district teachers and local professional musicians….. The BRAVO! music program provides a pathway for students to enroll and be successful in junior high and high school music ensembles.” Kristine Pacheco-Bernt, the orchestra’s director of music education, said that during the pandemic, “Disparities in education have become apparent, and the symphony’s mission to provide music education to the community is more important now than it has ever been.” Sierra Loughridge, the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s director of elementary education, said that the district “is thrilled to be partnering with the Santa Barbara Symphony again this school year…. We recognize that the benefits of playing a musical instrument … include an increase in students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, art, expression and mathematics skills.”
Change font size
