Philharmonia's Community Education Outreach Program takes time each year to prepare a special Children's Presentation Concert for the grade school children of the Parkville community. In August of 1999, Philharmonia performed Tchaikovsky's Peter and the Wolf and Aesop's Fables free of charge for an audience of children in ages from toddlers to teenagers.

Grade school education opportunities aren't all the Philharmonia offers Northern Missouri in education. The Philharmonia acts as a highly integrated musical teaching environment. Acting as a bridge between student and teacher, all members at all levels play side by side. Many of our members are seasoned veterans now teaching in schools, universities and privately. Yet other members are high-school students, adult learners and college students soon to move on to become teachers themselves. This provides an ideal advanced learning environment for students reaching for a higher level of interactive learning not available in schools or private lessons.

The long term relationship the Philharmonia has held with Park University has provided more students with yet another special learning environment. Faculty at the University incorporate attendance of these and other orchestra performances into the curriculum. This function places many students into orchestra audiences which would not otherwise discover the art. For this reason, the Philharmonia of Kansas City has always maintained a policy that University students be admitted free of charge to encourage and promote education of the arts to youth and students.

The following are a handful of profiles demonstrating the educational capacity of the Philharmonia.

• High school student -
advanced string payer

Joined the Philharmonia and now plays side by side with teachers and adults. This student can learn both technique, rehearsal responsibilities, repertoire and professional performance etiquette.

• Adult learner -
string player

Has taken several years of private lessons, but now with Philharmonia is able to practice, learn and perform with professionals.

• Violinist progressing to professionalism

This musician practiced and performed in the group as an amateur but progressed to achieve a paid position with a professional symphony. Many members in all positions have advanced to a variety of paid appointments.

• College student -
Music Education Major

This student is completing a degree in Music Education with another University. Also working as a student teacher in the music department of a local elementary school, this student interacts with others in the orchestra as teaching professionals.

• College student -
Music Appreciation class

This student is not a music major but is enrolled in a Park University Music appreciation class. Introduced to and assigned to attend orchestra concerts, each will write in-depth reviews of the performances. Philharmonia performs on campus and at no cost to students who would otherwise need to commute to and pay to attend other symphony performances.

Call (816) 478-0181 for further information about Community and Educational Outreach Programs.

To join as a musician, click here.

For information about our musicians, click here .

To donate to the Philharmonia,
send your check to:
The Philharmonia of Greater Kansas City
PO Box 14448
Kansas City MO 64152

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