{ “ I believe passionately that music has the power to change lives , and the BSO should lead the movement .”
{ “ I believe passionately that music has the power to change lives , and the BSO should lead the movement .”
M A R I N A L S O P
activities , OrchKids added a four-week , full-day summer program to the schedule in 2010 . Conceived as a way to continue education throughout the summer break , the program was hosted in 2017 by The SEED School of Maryland . In addition to receiving music instruction , students participated in physical activities like dance and yoga and worked on a variety of enrichment projects like woodworking , debate and visual art .
OrchKids has been featured on 60 Minutes , National Public Radio and Maryland Public Television . Last year , founding donors Rheda Becker and Bob Meyerhoff made a contribution to MPT in support of a story about the program . The special segment went on to receive an Emmy ® Award in the Education / Schools category .
“ We are so proud of what our OrchKids have accomplished since we first invested in the program 10 years ago ,” say Becker and Meyerhoff . “ Over the years , we have witnessed the transformative power that this program brings to our students and our city — the seeds we planted then have taken root and grown almost as tall as the students !”
OrchKids has flourished due in large part to the dedication and hard work of its devoted teachers and administrative staff . In 2017 alone , the program saw the greatest number of students accepted to the Baltimore School for the Arts , secured a new school program and raised over $ 1.3 million , representing the largest contributed revenue in the program ’ s history .
For the tenth anniversary , OrchKids is celebrating its monumental achievements in a number of ways . In addition to plans for a celebratory benefit performance in the spring , one highlight is a concert in April in the historic Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress in Washington , D . C . OrchKids students will find themselves in good company — artists who ’ ve performed at the Library of Congress include Aaron Copland , Leonard Bernstein and Stevie Wonder . Copland ’ s popular ballet Appalachian Spring , was commissioned on behalf
OrchKids cellist Desha warms up before a concert at the Meyerhoff . of the Library and premiered there in 1944 .
Clockwise ( from top ): Marin Alsop with OrchKids students at a fundraising event ; OrchKids students from Baltimore ’ s Highlandtown Elementary / Middle School # 215 ; OrchKids students Devron and Keith rehearsing before a performance at the Meyerhoff .
For some OrchKids participants , the anniversary represents the culmination of years of work . Of the program ’ s initial group of 30 students , a few remain who can trace the scope of the progress they ’ ve made from start to finish .
Siblings Desha and Keith , in 11 th and 10 th grade , respectively , have each been a part of the program for 9 years . “ The OrchKids program was able to expose me to what is possible with hard work ,” says Keith , who plays tuba and percussion at the Baltimore School for the Arts . “ I ’ ve also learned how to be a role model for younger students so they will want to strive to work hard to get the same opportunities I ’ ve had .” Desha , who attends Lansdowne High School and plays cello and percussion , agrees : “ OrchKids is special because it allows me to mentor younger students and provides me opportunities to travel and perform . I really enjoy playing my cello and working with such great teachers !”
“ The musical and social achievements of OrchKids students have led to not only rapid progress individually but also to progress and prosperity for our entire community ,” says OrchKids Artistic Liaison Dan Trahey . “ OrchKids students have each year progressed in fundamental areas such as public speaking , composing music , teaching , mentoring and of course , playing and singing music of all genres and inclusive of all cultures at higher and higher levels . The OrchKids have become examples of citizen artists and are ambassadors for the skills necessary to be a 21 st -century musician .”
Of all the lessons that OrchKids has taught its students over the years , perhaps the most important is the understanding of the possibilities that lie ahead . By instilling within its participants not only the vitality of music and education , but also the values of health , family and community awareness , OrchKids will continue to shape the future of Baltimore ’ s citizens for decades to come .
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