In the Fall of 2009, the Conservatory of Music initiated a chamber music education outreach program. The outreach program is intended to serve as a means to connect Conservatory students and faculty with junior high and high school music teachers and students, while providing a meaningful educational experience for young musicians.
Last fall, the Honors String Quartet and Honors Brass Quintet were chosen as pilot ensembles for the program. The Opera Scenes Chamber Ensemble was added in the spring. Each ensemble participated in a 6-8 week intensive preparatory program. Under the guidance of a faculty advisor, the ensembles created a 45-minute program, including musical selections geared to junior high or high school audiences; and oral presentations that provide context for performance repertoire, and information about instruments, composers, music genres and style.
The program provides opportunities for our students to perform and speak in public and develop skills that they will find useful in their professional music careers. Outreach programs have become nationally ubiquitous as professional music organizations, both public and private, have recognized the important role educational outreach plays in reaching a wider audience and educating young listeners. Senior Matt Kellaway, a member of the opera outreach group, said, “Not only does it allow those of us in the program to perform opera all year round and get more experience in our craft, but it also is a wonderful opportunity to be able to give middle schools and high schools the chance to experience what opera is really like. I would’ve loved to have a program like this one perform for me when I was in middle school or high school.”
The outreach programs also provide the Conservatory with additional means to connect with area teachers and students, thereby broadening the network of music educators who are familiar with Biola. Following a performance at a local junior high, director of choral music, Melissa Martinez, remarked, “I thought the presentation was well-suited for junior high school students, and it captured their attention from beginning to end. My students and I truly appreciated the talents that the students shared and we are grateful for this wonderful opportunity to expand their experiences with the arts.” Ensemble repertoire varies. The Honors Brass Quintet put together an entertaining program featuring Dixieland tunes, Baroque selections, Opera transcription favorites, and music from television. The Honors String Quartet’s program included an impressive collection of chamber music by Brahms, Mozart, Glass, Gershwin, and a folk-tune arrangement for strings and fiddle. The Opera Scenes Chamber Ensemble prepared a 45-minute condensed rendition of Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro."
The Conservatory is presently considering broadening the program and including additional chamber groups due to the success of the program last year. Bookings are under way for the 2010-2011 academic year. If you are interested in bringing a Conservatory chamber group to your school, please contact Katherine Devine at katherine.a.devine@biola.edu, or call the music office at 562.903.4892.