New Kids’ Orchestra Brings Children Together
(Baton Rouge)—There will be new sounds from children playing together in Baton Rouge this fall. These sounds will be music from Kids’ Orchestra, the new after-school program for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Supporters organizing Kids’ Orchestra are focused on harmony beyond the notes of the musical instruments the young people will play.
“Kids’ Orchestra will bring together kids from different schools and neighborhoods of Baton Rouge to interact and work side-by-side as a group studying music, learning to play instruments, and eventually performing as an orchestra,” Gwen Jones, Kids’ Orchestra Executive Director, explained.
For Release Thursday, April 28, 2011
For more information contact:
Gwen Jones, Executive Director of Kids’ Orchestra, Inc.
5667 Bankers Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
PH: 225-922-4656 FAX: 225-922-5120
gjones@kidsorchestra.org
New Kids’ Orchestra brings children together
(Baton Rouge)—There will be new sounds from children playing together in Baton Rouge this fall. These sounds will be music from Kids’ Orchestra, the new after-school program for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
Supporters organizing Kids’ Orchestra are focused on harmony beyond the notes of the musical instruments the young people will play.
“Kids’ Orchestra will bring together kids from different schools and neighborhoods of Baton Rouge to interact and work side-by-side as a group studying music, learning to play instruments, and eventually performing as an orchestra,” Gwen Jones, Kids’ Orchestra Executive Director, explained.
“In a community that is frequently fragmented by location, Kids’ Orchestra will bring together children who otherwise would have never met, to forge friendships and understanding through the shared experience of music,” she added.
For the inaugural year, the five schools participating include Capitol Elementary School, The Dunham School, Lanier Elementary School, Louisiana University Laboratory School, and Melrose Elementary School.
“I am excited about this program, fully support it and look forward to participating,” Dunham School Headmaster Bobby Welch said.
Two orchestras are to be formed from the five schools meeting after school two days a week. Each orchestra will rehearse sectionally, then assemble for group rehearsal. “I think group teaching is valuable because they can listen to and encourage each other,” Jones said.
A generous grant from the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge Foundation (CBBRF) is the first gift of its kind to Kids’ Orchestra. “We’re very excited about their endorsement of our program,” Jones said. All gifts support plans for Kids’ Orchestra to provide children with opportunities for creativity, self-expression, cooperative learning, teamwork, academic success and self-esteem.”
Volunteers and staff plan to involve parents, guardians and participating children as well as the whole community of Baton Rouge. “We’ll do this through partnerships with sponsors and events spotlighting the children and their growing skills,” Jones noted.
Contributions are needed and appreciated. Opportunities include donating musical instruments as well as volunteering to teach or give time in other ways to help Kids’ Orchestra serve the community by developing well-rounded citizens of tomorrow through music,” she said.
Jones began her work as Executive Director in February. “I have a special love for children and a huge respect for the good that music works in each of us,” Jones said. “I look forward to combining my love of music, education and children.”
She has been a professional musician for over 40 years. A mezzo soprano, Jones has sung extensively throughout the United States in both major and regional opera houses, as well as in both concert work and opera in Europe, South and Central America, and the Far East. She’s taught Master Classes, judged vocal competitions and maintained a voice studio for many years in New York City.
Kids’ Orchestra recruiting in August will be in the five schools through parent-teacher meetings, presentations to parents and information that will be sent home from the schools. The program will be available free of charge to the students with scholarship needs. The long-term goal is to reach every child in East Baton Rouge Parish with an orchestra experience opportunity in the next 5 years.
About Kids’ Orchestra
Kids’ Orchestra is a year round program designed to foster social change and nurture promising futures for youth in Baton Rouge. In collaboration with a broad array of community partners, Baton Rouge’s Kids’ Orchestra program will provide music education, instruments, leadership development, and performance opportunities to Baton Rouge’s kindergarten through fifth graders. Additional information is available at www.kidsorchestra.org.