1. Education & Community Initiatives

2. Thank you!
Following is a summary report on the various projects of BRSO’s Education and Community Initiatives. Thank you very much for considering support of these impactful programs!

3. BRSO MISSION
The mission of the Baton Rouge Symphony is to develop and maintain a financially sound, first-class symphony orchestra with a regional and national profile which will provide education and cultural enrichment for the people of the greater Baton Rouge region and neighboring communities.

4. Louisiana Youth Orchestras
The flagship program of BRSO’s Education and Community Initiatives, LYO consists of four ensembles: Louisiana Youth Orchestra (high school), Louisiana Junior Youth Orchestra (middle school), Louisiana Junior String Ensemble (elementary school) & LYO Percussion Ensemble.
LYO promotes high expectations, artistic standards, discipline and promotes a non-competitive environment that fosters musicianship, social skills, and team building.

5. LYO performs entire concert season at River Center Theatre for the Performing Arts - for the first time!

6. Young Peoples Discovery Concert Series 2015 Legends and Fairytales

7. Young People’s Discovery Concert Series
Every year BRSO presents educational concerts for thousands of students. The 2015 Season Discovery Concerts hosted over 5000 children! The primary purpose of these concerts is for students to experience a live performance of a full symphony orchestra. Students learn about the instrument families and enjoy some of the greatest pieces of the orchestral repertoire in an engaging presentation that connects music to a core academic theme – in this case literature. The theme for was “Legends and Fairytales.”

8. 2015 Discovery at Copper Mill Elementary

9. BRSO – EMERGE CENTER Partnership
BRSO’s year-round partnership with The Emerge Center uses instrumental music to enhance therapies for children with autism and other communication disorders. In addition to using music as a tool for empowering children to communicate, this partnership also brings live musical performances to children who have fewer opportunities to experience or difficulty accessing artistic programming. BRSO musicians visited twice a week, partnering with Emerge Center therapists. The program has doubled in size since its beginning two years ago, working now with an average of 80 children per week!
*Actual cost: $22,395 as of June 30, 2016

10. Musical Gateways Passports
BRSO distributed 200 “Musical Gateways Passports” through its community partners to underprivileged students in our community. Each “passport” provided free access to BRSO’s entire season of Masterworks and Chamber concerts for the student and an accompanying adult. Each “passport” is also an educational document, inviting students to learn about the musicians and the repertoire at each concert. The Musical Gateways Passports were used over 400 times during the Season! The program will expand to 250 passports for the season.

11. Alzheimer’s Services and Tunes at Noon
BRSO musicians lead interactive music programs featuring recitals and conversations for the clients of Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area. “Fall into Music” consists of three sessions held at Manship Theatre during the autumn months. Throughout the spring and summer months, BRSO brings engaging programs to clients of Charlie’s Place. BRSO invites clients, staff and families of Baton Rouge Alzheimer’s Services to attend “Home for the Holidays” performances as our guests! It has been a wonderful time of sharing and remembering!
Monthly chamber music concerts are presented free of charge at East Baton Rouge Parish libraries. These programs serve as a fantastic opportunity for members of our community to not only hear inspiring classical music during the week, but also meet BRSO musicians outside of the formality of the concert hall.

12. Gardere Initiative & Coffee on the Porch
For two years, BRSO musicians have lead a weekly after-school music program that benefits the students in the Gardere neighborhood. Looking forward to its third year, the season will guide students through the process of composing their own music, which will be performed by BRSO musicians.
In partnership with Mid City Redevelopment Alliance, BRSO musicians set up on the porch of the old firehouse on Laurel Street, sharing a coffee and world-class music with residents, students and homeless alike and engaging in conversation about improving Mid-City through the arts.

13. Elementary Strings Camp
In preparation for EBRPSS’s Elementary Strings Camp in the spring, BRSO musicians recorded videos demonstrating the repertoire that students will prepare for the Camp, and offered tips for successful practice. The same musicians demonstrated the repertoire also gave a recital workshop at the Camp.

14. Teacher of the Year Program
Since 2005, BRSO has honored outstanding music and classroom teachers who successfully integrate music with other disciplines and showcase the value of the arts in developing problem solving, creativity, logic, and other cognitive skills.
BRSO provides winners with classroom materials, season subscriptions and celebrates their achievements with patrons at a Masterworks concert.
winners were Amy Pan (Copper Mill Elementary School), Music Ensemble Teacher of the Year and Keith James (Westdale Heights Academic Magnet School), Music Teacher of the Year. 

15. SYMPHONY STREET
Symphony Street brings musicians into our schools to present programs that teach core academic subjects using a variety of repertoire. Each program features a chamber ensemble and a narrator, and the subject matter and repertoire is tailored to target grade levels. Programs have included literary themes, African-American history, and the science of sound. Symphony Street programs are offered to schools in the following parishes: Ascension, East & West Baton Rouge, East & West Feliciana, Iberville,  Livingston, Point Coupee, and Tangipahoa.
Acclaimed violinist, Adé Williams, performed for hundreds of EBR and Central students as a part of BRSO’s 2016 celebration of African American History Month.

16. Thank you!
Your support means the world to us! Thank you for sharing our vision and for helping us accomplish so much!