Education First

Philharmonic working hard, playing hard in 2015-16

The four concerts planned for the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra's 2015-16 season are just the tip of a proverbial iceberg, this one a groundswell of educational opportunities that Becky Gale thinks makes APO different.

"Different in a good way," the new president of the APO Board adds with a quick laugh. "We have three wonderful symphonies within a hundred mile radius. It's such a rich environment, and we're part of that. We not only provide opportunities for professional musicians but for young musicians -- and for [budding] musicians. Kids are just so excited to be able to hear a professional orchestra."

FYI

Arkansas

Philharmonic

2015-16 Season

Oct. 18 — The Planets Orchestral Spectacular, 3 p.m., Faulkner Performing Arts Center in Fayetteville

Dec. 19 — Christmas With the APO, 7:30 p.m., Arend Arts Center in Bentonville

Feb. 13 — The Red Violin with Elizabeth Pitcairn and her legendary 1720 “Red Mendelssohn” Stradivarius violin, 7:30 p.m., Arend Arts Center

April 16 — American Innovations with Jeffrey Biegel, 7:30 p.m., Arend Arts Center

Tickets are $5-$25 in advance of each concert; $30 at the door; or $18-$95 for season tickets.

INFO — arphil.org

The orchestra's educational offerings start in elementary schools in Benton and Washington counties through a Carnegie Hall program called Link Up.

"Link Up provides curriculum, workbooks and teacher manuals for the partner schools," Gale explains. "It involves recorders and singing and movement. Maestro (Steven) Byess or members of the orchestra visit the individual schools or music classes during the year. Then, in the spring, the full orchestra comes to the school -- to wherever the performing arts center is -- and the kids perform with the orchestra, sing, play their recorders, from their seats. It brings music to so many children."

New this year, Gale adds, is an APO Youth Orchestra -- actually, three groups of beginning, intermediate and advanced string players with percussion expected to be added for the second semester.

"We will link their concerts with ours," she explains. "They'll perform some preconcert numbers, and in the spring, we plan to do a side by side with the orchestra.

"I was a band director for the Bentonville schools for nearly 30 years, and in my fourth year of retirement, it is filling a hole in my heart to be involved in music again," Gale adds. "It's dear to my heart that the philosophy of the Arkansas Philharmonic is rooted in education."

-- Becca Martin-Brown

bmartin@nwadg.com

NAN What's Up on 07/24/2015

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