FABULOUS NEWS JUST IN ABOUT KHS SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA!
KHS Symphonic Orchestra's Road to Carnegie Hall
Dear KHS Alumnus,
While it takes some people a lifetime of practice to get to Carnegie Hall, as the saying goes, the Kirkwood High School Symphonic Orchestra students will have that honor as young musicians March 26-29 when they perform at the 2010 Instrumental Music Festival at the prestigious hall. The Kirkwood orchestra was one of three instrumental groups selected nationwide.
Orchestra Director Patrick Jackson and approximately 60 students will follow in the footsteps of some of music’s legendary greats, including Isaac Stern, Leonard Bernstein, Nell Carter, Duke Ellington, the Beatles and Harry Belafonte, to name a few. The orchestra will perform in the main concert hall on Sunday, March 28, 2010, as part of the annual festival.
The largest concert hall at Carnegie has served as the premiere classical music performance space in the country since its opening in 1891. Its striking curvilinear design is embraced by five levels of seating and Baroque-style plaster walls that have absorbed the sounds of Gershwin, Bach and Beethoven. It is here where Kirkwood students will leave their own sound in the historic walls.
“It has been said that the hall itself is an instrument,” said the late violinist Isaac Stern. “It takes what you do and makes it larger than life.” In 1996, Carnegie’s Main Hall stage was dedicated the Isaac Stern Auditorium.
The orchestra’s selection to play at Carnegie reflects the excellence and dedication demanded of KHS students and the sense of pride generated throughout the Kirkwood community. When the orchestra students step out on that prestigious stage next March, it will be because of the support generated by the Kirkwood alumni and residents of this proud community.
Former Kirkwood orchestra students have won first-prize awards at prestigious competitions including the Avery Fisher Prize, Banff International Chamber Music Competition and the Sphinx Competition. Jackson’s students have also attended top music schools nationwide, including The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Yale School of Music, Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, The New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. Added to the annals of Kirkwood’s orchestral history will now be an unprecedented appearance at Carnegie Hall.
The Symphonic Orchestra students have embarked on their year-long fundraising campaign, “The Road to Carnegie Hall.” We encourage your support in their endeavors as they not only raise the necessary funds for the trip, but rehearse for the performance of a lifetime. The students need to raise $72,000 to cover the cost of their four-day trip.
To make a tax deductible donation, you may donate online by selecting the "Donate Now" link below or go to www.kirkwoodschools.org and select the "Road to Carnegie Hall" link on the left. You also may mail a check, please make checks payable to the Kirkwood High School Orchestra and send to: Kirkwood School District, Attention: Ginger Fletcher, 11289 Manchester Rd., Kirkwood, MO 63122.
On behalf of the students and the orchestra program, thank you in advance for your support.
Cathy Bailey, President
Kirkwood Orchestra Parents Association (KOPA)Website Dona
Address postal inquiries to:
Kirkwood School District
11289 Mancester Rd.
Kirkwood, MO 63122
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment