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The CCO’s successful Youth Outreach Program visits the schools in and around Tompkins County each spring to provide a classical music experience for young students – right in their own classrooms. Willard Daetsch, a former Board member and longtime dear friend and supporter, had the idea that inspired the creation of these school visits and in August of 2012, the CCO re-named the program in his honor.
In March 2015, the CCO was honored to be chosen from a diverse range of applicants as one of the recipients of the 2015 Yale Distinguished Music Education Partnership Award.
The program consists of three phases:
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Phase 1: A docent musician from the CCO visits each school to introduce the second grade classes to the theme for the year and prepare them for the upcoming visit of a small ensemble. The theme for 2017 is “Music is a New World.”
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Phase 2: The small ensemble of CCO musicians then engages the children in an introduction to the oboe, viola, violin, and cello. They talk about music as a vehicle for expression and introduce the children to musical concepts.
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Phase 3: The program culminates in a visit to Ithaca High School’s Kulp Auditorium where over 700 second-graders attend a one-hour concert given by the award-winning Ithaca High School Orchestra. This year, the children will be treated to music from Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the “New World” Symphony by Dvorak, a movement from Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings, and “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Louis Prima.
By familiarizing students with instruments before they have the opportunity to participate in the school’s instrumental instruction program, the CCO hopes to promote individual music study in elementary school and beyond. The CCO is always ready to share our passion and knowledge about music with kids of any age, and we appreciate the collaborative spirit of the schools and the individual teachers – this program wouldn’t be the success it is without their active involvement.
This Program is made possible by a generous grant from the Park Foundation.
Willard Daetsch Youth Outreach Program
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