Santa Maria Philharmonic Teaching Students About Classical Music
SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Class was in session at Pacific Christian Center in Santa Maria on Wednesday. But instead of learning the “Three R’s,” students learned something more like the “Three B’s” of Brahms, Bach and Beethoven.
More than 2600 fourth grade students from the Santa Maria Valley were there taking part in an annual concert held by the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society.
“Today is a great first impression for young meet to meet the symphony orchestra, the different instruments and also have an exposure with live theatre with live music,” said Brian Alhadeff, guest conductor who led two-day performance with the Philharmonic.
The Philharmonic is committed to cultivating the next generation of classical music fans. The musicians annually expose area third grade students to the art form with a music van that travels the Central Coast. For fourth grade students, it’s this performance that furthers their classical education.
“We’re introducing them to culture,” said Concert Master Sharon Cooper. “To the music that has been written by Prokofiev and the symphony, to the symphony right here in the Santa Maria Valley.”
The annual outreach program is funded through the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation. Kids who attend are treated to a fun tutorial on the different instruments and instrument sections that make up a orchestra.
“All of them are great and they make different sounds and they sound very beautiful sound when they’re all together,” said Lizzy Cholula, a 4th grade student at Rice Elementary School.
In addition, the symphony performs a full-length concert version of Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. Students were instructed the concert would require them to use their imagination.
“You’ve got to picture the scenes in the head, so it’s pretty fun, so each person has a different view,’ said student Tyler Schwiso.
The hour long performance is meant to not only expose kids to classical music, but also inspire them to perhaps begin a musical career.
“After seeing a live performance of the orchestra or symphony perform, we would hope they would become interested in picking up an instrument and start to learn how to play the violin, the flute, or the chello,” said Gina Oh, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society Director of Education.
It’s a busy week for the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society. In addition to their youth concert, on Saturday, February 28th, it will hold “Pops Internationale.” It’s a concert showcasing music from around the world and will feature conductor Brian Alhadeff, as well as the Allan Hancock College Singers and Ballet Folklorico Dancers. The concert will be held at Grace Baptist Church in Santa Maria starting at 7:30 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit santamariaphilharmonic.org
