Thousands of elementary and middle school students watched Maurice Ravel’s “Daphnis and Chloé” come, as the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra brought music and magic to the Alexandria City Public school system this week.
The performance came complete with dancers from the Trainwreck Dance Company. The 2003 Education Concerts were a part of ASO’s inter-arts program.
“We began the program about 10 years ago with the goal of showing children how all of the arts can come together,” said Kim Allen Kluge, ASO’s musical director. “We have developed a teacher’s guide and bring small ensembles into the classroom so that children can be prepared to fully appreciate the performance.”
THIS YEAR it was music and dance, but in years past it has been symphonic and vocal music. Next year it will be music and the visual arts. “We are going to take the music from Harry Potter and get the students to create art work that depicts the story that the music is telling,” Kluge said.
Kluge began the program in the schools for a variety of reasons. “First, arts education has been cut significantly over the past few years,” he said. The orchestra tries to use the education concerts, in cooperation with public school teachers, to make sure Alexandria students see as many different types of art as possible.
"Unlike what I was taught in school, everyday life is filled with improvisation,” Kluge said. “The more exposure that a child has to creative expression, the better prepared he or she is to contribute to society as an adult.”
The symphony will begin its 60th season in September, and will play a pops concert on July 12 as part of the city’s birthday celebration.
For more information about ASO’s programs or subscriptions to next year’s concerts, call 703-548-0886.