The Orchestra Games featuring the Windham Orchestra
A Presentation of the BMC's Music in the Schools Program
Funded by the Music Drive Us Foundation

Each year, as part of the BMC’s Music in the Schools program, hundreds of school age children are given the opportunity to experience and enjoy a full symphony orchestra with a performance designed especially for them. This year the Windham Orchestra will present Gregory Smith's The Orchestra Games.  Thanks to funding by the Music Drives Us Foundation, Brattleboro area schools will be invited to attend this performance free of charge.

Performances are also open to home-schooled children and the public free of charge.

Performance times:  9 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm 

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1200 School Children to Attend BMC’s Children’s Concert at the Latchis
 
On Thursday, March 26, over 1200 school children from 12 schools will attend a special performance of the Windham Orchestra as part of the Brattleboro Music Center’s Music in the Schools program.  This year, thanks to funding by the Music Dives Us Foundation, schools are invited to attend a 9 am, 11 am or 1:30 pm children’s concert at the Latchis Theatre free of charge.
 
This unique opportunity for school children to experience and enjoy a full symphony orchestra with a performance designed especially for them is offered each year as part of the BMC’s Music in the Schools program and the Windham Orchestra’s focus on youth and education.
 
On Thursday, the Windham Orchestra, under the direction of David Runnion, will present  The Orchestra Games, composed by Gregory Smith and narrated by Patrick Donnelly. Not just another “get to know the instruments” piece, The Orchestra Games explores the various instruments' personalities and acquaints the listener with basic musical elements as it sprints through an Olympic array of events.
 
The piece is set up as an Olympic-style competition between the Strings, Brass and Woodwinds - the Percussion and Harp serve as the judges. There are multiple events that drive the storyline, but also serve as demonstration-style pieces to show off what the various instruments or instrument families do best.  Events include The Marathon, The Fast Note Dash, and The Low Note Limbo.
 
The children’s concert will also include a performance of Allego Energico from Violin Concerto in g minor by Max Bruch featuring 18 year old violinist Seth Ainsworth.  Seth is a student at the BMC Music School where at age 11 he began studying violin with David Tasgal, and since age 13 has been a student of Kathy Andrew.
 
Already an accomplished performer, Seth is an inspiration to younger music students and currently serves as an intern teaching violin at Academy School in Brattleboro as part of the Music in the Schools Program, under the direction of Music School faculty members Lisa Ferrigno and David Tasgal.
 
The Music in the Schools program is a collaboration between the BMC and area public schools to offer Windham County children enhanced musical experiences beyond what is currently available in their schools. Each year students are given the opportunity to see small ensemble groups perform live at in-school concerts, take part in string instrument instruction, participate in the Prima Orchestra, and attend a meet-the-orchestra concert such as The Orchestra Games.
 
The Music Drives Us Foundation generously funds these performances of The Orchestra Games in fulfillment of its commitment to preserving music education, preservation and awareness throughout New England and to supporting organizations and individuals who are interested in using music as a tool for all segments of society and for all ages.
 
The BMC Music in the Schools Program and Windham Orchestra present The Orchestra Games on Thursday, March 26 at 9 am, 11 am and 1:30 pm at the Latchis Theatre, Main Street, Brattleboro. Performances are free of charge and open to the public as space allows.
 
For information on how you or your school can participate in the BMC’s Music in the Schools programs contact the Brattleboro Music Center at 802- 257-4523 or visit bmcvt.org.