Schools Celebrate AZ Centennial with The Phoenix Symphony
Symphony Plays for Sold-out Concerts
PHOENIX – Thousands of school children will celebrate Arizona’s 100th year of statehood in a centennial concert performed by The Phoenix Symphony. On February 22 and 23, Resident Conductor Joseph Young and musicians from the orchestra will perform Happy Birthday Arizona!, featuring songs inspired by the land, history and culture of our great state. Musical highlights include Grofe’s popular Grand Canyon Suite, Copland’s Hoe Down and Sousa’s The Stars and Stripes Forever. The concert will also feature a performance by the Arizona School of Classical Ballet and artwork submitted by students from across the valley inspired by Arizona landscapes.
Symphony for the Schools is the premiere education program of The Phoenix Symphony. More than 70 schools and nearly 10,000 students participate in the Symphony for the Schools program. These 45-minute daytime concerts and accompanying teacher resources are developed using the Arizona State Arts and Academic Standards. “Symphony for the Schools is a unique opportunity for students to experience a live performance by professional musicians,” said Kim Leavitt, Director of Education and Community Engagement for The Phoenix Symphony. “The program is designed to be educational, connecting music to other areas of the curriculum, and hopefully inspires students to become involved in music.”
Through a generous donation from Target, the Happy Birthday Arizona! concerts are free for Title I students. The concerts are currently sold out. Schools wishing to be placed on a waiting list or added to The Phoenix Symphony’s education mailing list may contact Kim Leavitt, Director of Education and Community Engagement, at [email protected] or (602) 452-0470. Media is invited to attend any of the Symphony for the Schools programs, please contact our public relations department.
