Nearly 11,000 elementary school students from 100 different schools from as far away as Nogales will travel to see the TSO KinderKonzerts and Young People’s Concerts this spring. For the vast majority of these students, it will be one of their first live music experiences with a full symphonic orchestra. 55% of public schools attend the concerts completely free of charge due to the generosity of tax-credit donors.
KinderKonzerts
From Tuesday, April 22 through Friday, April 25, students will pack the Edward B. Berger Performing Arts Center twice a day for Captain Fred’s guide to the orchestra. Captain Fred, played by TSO percussionist Fred Morgan, leads the orchestra on a high seas adventure alongside Commodore Kelly, played by Kelly Corcoran, who is a conductor veteran of our kids’ concerts. Kindergarten through 2nd grade students will learn about the orchestra and how it functions as a great crew both on the seas and in the orchestra hall. The program consists of Britten’s Four Sea Interludes, Korngold’s Music from The Sea Hawk, Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, Klaus Badelt’s “He’s a Pirate” from Pirates of the Caribbean and more.
Young People’s Concerts
Students in the 3rd to 6th grade attending Young People’s Concerts May 6 through 8 at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall will be treated to a program focusing on the importance of the Santa Cruz Valley watershed which includes Sonoran Rivers, A Celebration of Desert Water, a TSO co-commission by University of Arizona composer Yuanyuan Kay He. The program is a part of a larger collaboration between the TSO, the University of Arizona School of Music and the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area. Dr. Sara Fraker, TSO oboist and University of Arizona Associate Professor has been instrumental in facilitating the collaboration. Maestro José Luis Gomez will conduct the Young People’s Concerts for the first time in his tenure as TSO Music Director.
