News Stories
Significant Increase in Graduates Continuing With Music
This past year the number of rising 6th graders from our program auditioning for places in the middle school orchestra and band programs significantly increased. Close to 80% of our rising 6th graders are continuing with music in middle school.
SMP Volunteers Contribute Record 3,000 Hours of Service
Last year, we had close to 100 volunteers, coming from as many as 20 different high schools, colleges and community ensembles. Our volunteers contributed over 3,000 hours of service, bringing us closer to the promise of working one-on-one with each student.
Marian Anderson String Quartet Residency
Last year, the string students at partner school, T.T. Minor Elementary, had the opportunity to perform with the world-renowned Marian Anderson String Quartet at Benaroya Hall. Their performance was the culmination of two week-long residencies at the school. The students’ progress and excitement was chronicled by KPLU public radio. Our participation was made possible through our continuing partnership with University of Washington World Series and the Ladies Musical Club.
World-Class African Mbira Player, Chiwoniso, Performs at SMP-Partner School
The students at partner site, Leschi Elementary School, recently were delighted by an up-close performance by Chiwoniso, a world-renowned African mbira player, singer and storyteller. Chiwoniso took time in her busy schedule to lead sessions about Zimbabwe and the importance of music and the mbira in cultural and spiritual life there.
SMP Selected to Participate in National Service Initiative
Over the summer, we were chosen to participate in the pilot program of a new national service initiative called MusicianCorps that recruits, trains and places talented musicians in under-resourced schools, low-income communities and health care settings for a year of “music public service.” Locally-based Arts Corps selected SMP as one of a small handful of groups to work with a MusicianCorps Fellow. We are thrilled to be in on the ground floor of this important national initiative and working with local teaching artist, Aaron Walker-Loud, at two of our elementary school locations.
NEA and 4Culture Honor Seattle Music Partners With ARRA Grant
In September, 4Culture announced that SMP would be a recipient of federal stimulus funds from the National Endowment of the Arts under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. SMP is one of 40 arts and cultural organizations in the Puget Sound region to receive these funds. The award is intended to help organizations like SMP extend jobs, ranging from director positions to performing artists.
AmeriCorps Member Selected to Work with SMP
After a competitive review process, we were selected for the second year in a row to work with an AmeriCorps volunteer, who currently serves as our program coordinator. Lindsey Harris, an accomplished French horn player, joins us from the east coast where she most recently spent a year serving as an AmeriCorps Public Allies volunteer at a homeless shelter for women and children, as well as working with youth in the development of a community organization project.