GSO Young Peoples Concerts

Patricia Handy, Associate Conductor of the Greenwich Symphony Orchestra is Music Director and Conductor of the Young People's Concert series. These concerts are specially designed to introduce Greenwich school children to the music of the great masters and the symphony orchestra. Attending the programs are all children in grades two through seven of all public and private schools in Greenwich. These students are prepared for knowledgeable listening by their schools; music teachers, with the aid of CDs and creative classroom assignments prepared by the Greenwich Symphony Board's Young People's Concert Committee. This enrichment is made possible by contributions from parents, friends, corporations and foundations, PTA organizations, and proceeds from the Symphony Board's annual benefits. The series received the CT Alliance for Arts Education's 2001 Award for ''Outstanding Community Arts Program.'' Performances are during school hours in the Greenwich High School Auditorium. Limited seating is available for interested persons. For further information, please call the Symphony office at (203) 869-2664 or (203) 622-6611.

Beethoven – Musical Titan      October 28, 2009 (grades 4-5)
When asked, ''Who is the greatest composer who ever lived?'' an astounding number of musicians will answer, Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven is so great, he is even popular! This micro-portrait of the musical titan will touch on three vital elements of his personality – elements that infuse every page of this music: his profound love of nature; his fierce commitment to enlightenment thought; and his (ultimately) total deafness. Looking beyond extremely complicated musical discussions on the subject, part of the answer to Beethoven's greatness can be found in two lines of Schiller's Ode to Joy: ''You millions, I embrace you. This kiss is for all the world.''

European Soundscape      February 24, 2010 (grades 6-7)
Is music in the country or the country in the music? Selections from the art music of England, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain and Russia will demonstrate how specific aspects of a culture, its language, and its landscape frequently end up in its music. From the rhythm of the Spanish dance to the delicate nuances of the French language, the audience will tour Europe with their ears instead of their eyes!

Carnival of Animals      April 22, 2010 (grades 2-3)
Quoting the composer, our final concert of the season is ''a grand zoological fantasy.'' Saint-Saens' ever-popular work, Carnival of the Animals, will help us to explore the role and importance of the animal kingdom in our lives. We will also examine how the composer uses music to conjure up the images of animals in our minds. Leopold Mozart's Toy Symphony opens the program with teachers from the Greenwich schools playing the ''toy'' instruments – cuckoo and nightingale included!