This week was a busy one for Cleveland Orchestra residency in Miami.
It began with educational concerts offered to 4000 happy children from Miami Dade county Public schools. The students of ages 8 to 12 went on a field trip to the Arsht Center for the performing Arts where they enjoyed an hour of classical music.
The program included music pieces that drew their attention to certain parts of the orchestra and the conductor explained what instruments are the ones relevant in each musical work, for example the “Eine Kleine Nachtmusic “ by Mozart showcased the strings, the “Petite Symphonie” by composer Charles Gounod showcase the woodwinds, “Fire Brass” by Antony Di Lorenzo showcase the Brass section of the Orchestra and the “Kaleidoscope” for percussion showcased the great variety of percussion instruments that play in the Orchestra, this particular music has been composed by one of the members of the Cleveland Orchestra Mr. Donald Miller, this work drew a lot of excitement among the young audience that moved and danced with the music.
The center piece of the program “The Composer is Dead” with music by Nathaniel Stookey and lyrics by famous author Lemony Snicket, is a musical story telling that is meant to interest the audience about the fact that most classical composers are actually dead now day’s but they are kept alive by the orchestras and conductors that play their compositions in concerts.
During the performance of this piece that by the way is the Miami premier with the very one composer Nathaniel Stookey as narrator of the story. The kids where amazingly engaged with the story and shouted the word “dead” every time the narrator called out the name of a composer.
I want to congratulate the Cleveland Orchestra for their outreach to the community especially their educational concerts. By giving the opportunity to inspire kids in the Arts and Culture that otherwise would not been able to experience the sounds of a live Symphony Orchestra or the chance to learn about different musical styles and cultures around the world.
I am happy to see a growing outreach educational activity among many Art organizations in Florida delivering their inspiration to young audiences in their various forms of expression. Definitely it helps cultivate and foster future generations of Art lovers. It also complements a balanced education through this interdisciplinary method of teaching and nurturing creativity.
Bravo for the Arts in Miami!
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