:Letter from the Director:

I believe that the future and health of the music industry is directly linked to how children are initiated and brought into this ”wonderous” sonic world. The Kentucky Symphony Orchestra recognizes that school music teachers are the most important part of the pipeline, which sends talented students on to the next level. Succeeding in music requires both opportunity and challenge. The KSO‘s free Education Outreach efforts for 2007-08 are intended to offer both students and teachers a variety of convenient entrees to music and its ageless possibilities. We hope you will sign up and participate in one or more of the programs below.

Musically yours,
James R. Cassidy
Music Director

Getting to Know You
Reading is FUNdamental
Rags to Riches
Open Dress Rehearsal

Reading is FUNdamental
Teachers & select students (Grades 11 & 12)
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., December 1, 2007 Greaves Concert Hall

The KSO winds and percussion will join forces with select area high school students, band directors and Mannerino‘s Music to sight-read through a variety of literature spanning transcriptions from the 1920s to new works for wind ensembles penned by today’s renowned composers. Rodney Winther (CCM), Brant Karrick (NKU) and James Cassidy (KSO) will conduct a wide range and level of repertoire, intending to expose area directors and their participating students to new and unique works that they may wish to perform with their own school bands. This Fall clinic may be followed up later in the Spring (March TBA) with a concert of the best repertoire for band as selected by area teachers.

Rags to Riches
(featuring the Newport Ragtime Band, Grades 6-8)
9:30 & 11:00 a.m., February 19, 2008
Greaves Concert Hall

The KSO‘s Newport Ragtime Band celebrates Black History Month with a performance and slide show that surveys the roots of American musical heritage. The program offers ragtime, blues and early jazz from 1896-1928, featuring tunes by legendary African American musicians/composers Scott Joplin, James Reese Europe, W.C. Handy, Jelly Roll Morton, Eubie Blake and others. Also, learn how Cincinnati composers contributed to this genre of music. Limited opportunities are available for this 9-piece group to travel to schools with auditoriums.
Inquire via e-mail: jr@kyso.org.

Open Dress Rehearsal
(Grades: 9-12)
9:30 & 11:00 a.m., TBA
Greaves Concert Hall

See how an orchestra prepares for a concert at the final dress rehearsal. The conductor will be miked to allow attendees a very intimate view of the rehearsal process and the communication amongst professional musicians. Limited Q&A with musicians, conductor and soloist will occur during the break and at the end of rehearsal.