Strathmore To Host 10,000 Fifth Graders for Student Concerts

[Howard Hartman]

Strathmore To Host 10,000 Fifth Graders for Student Concerts

Strathmore opens its doors to all fifth grade students from Montgomery County Public Schools on April 7, 8, and 9, 2010. The Strathmore Student Concerts in the Music Center at Strathmore’s Concert Hall give children the opportunity to attend a performance by the National Philharmonic conducted by Music Director Piotr Gajewski.

Performed by the National Philharmonic, the concerts feature music by Russian composers Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Modest Mussorgsky. The interactive concerts are presented by Strathmore in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and sponsored by GEICO and Bank of America.

“The generous gifts from GEICO and Bank of America allow Strathmore to present world-class performing arts experiences to Montgomery County Public School students. By giving children access to live performances, we allow them to explore their creativity and foster music appreciation that can last a lifetime,� said Eliot Pfanstiehl, President & CEO, Strathmore.

To accommodate the 10,000 students, six daytime performances are scheduled during a three-day period in the 1,976-seat Concert Hall, two concerts each day, one at 10:35 a.m. and the other at 12:15 p.m. This is the second year that Strathmore has presented spring concerts for fifth graders. Since opening the Music Center in February 2005, Strathmore has welcomed all Montgomery County Public School second grade students each fall. Strathmore and the Montgomery County have demonstrated a commitment to provide world-class music education experiences to the County’s youngest residents.

“I am delighted that our fifth graders will again this year enjoy a concert at Strathmore by the outstanding National Philharmonic,� said Jerry D. Weast, superintendent of schools. “Thanks to this partnership effort, 10,000 students will have a musical experience they will long remember.�

The National Philharmonic’s 45-minute program features beloved classical music from the Romantic period including Tchaikovsky’s “March,� and “Waltz of the Flowers� from The Nutcracker, an excerpt from Symphony No. 4, and Mussorgsky’s “Tuileries� from Pictures at an Exhibition. The grand finale will feature Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture� with spectacular cannon effects and students playing bells.

The student concerts are fast-paced and supported by imagery on a large projection screen above the stage. “The musical examples will illustrate the various possible meanings of music, leading to the ultimate conclusion that music is simply about how it makes one feel when one listens,� says Maestro Gajewski.

The Strathmore Student Concerts with the National Philharmonic are held on April 7, 8 and 9, 2010 at 10:35 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Music Center at Strathmore. The Music Center is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, in North Bethesda, MD, immediately adjacent to the Grosvenor-Strathmore station on Metro’s Red Line. For more information on Strathmore, visit www.strathmore.org or call (301) 581-5100.