Posted on: Thursday, September 9, 2004

Carnegie Hall plays Hawai'i

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The Honolulu Symphony is one of 10 U.S. orchestras tapped to participate in a prestigious Carnegie Hall program that will enable the Hawai'i orchestra to beef up its educational programs for public and private schools.

The Carnegie program, creating partnerships with the Weill Music Institute's Communities LinkUP! program, targets fourth- through sixth-graders to help students learn skills and give them performance opportunities through a series of sequentially "linked" activities culminating with a spring concert by the Ho-nolulu Symphony.

"It's going to to be a valuable component to our education program, because it will provide teachers and students with free workbooks, recorders and compact discs based on the curriculum that Carnegie has been using for the past 18 years to teach music education in grades four to six in the New York area," said Joan Landry, assistant conductor of the orchestra who leads the orchestra's Youth Music Education Program.

"I think it's a fantastic age to inspire children," Landry said of the fourth- through sixth-grade student groupings, though the orchestral program here reaches youths from kindergarten through high school. "It's a time when youngsters are deciding on an instrument."

While there are no dollar amounts to measure the breadth of the Carnegie program, Landry said that LinkUP! will fill the void created from recent arts funding cutbacks and enable the orchestra to fulfill its mission to continue its popular youth education component.

Essentially, the program will initially enable two Hawai'i teachers to travel to Carnegie Hall in New York City, to develop teaching skills through formal training. These teachers will then train other teachers in October, linking with the Carnegie Web site that will post the curriculum, said Landry.

The provisions — teaching materials, recorders and CDs — are expected to enhance youth programs here and provide professional development for the teachers. The money will support 30,000 students served by the orchestra through youth concerts at Blaisdell Concert Hall, in-school ensemble performances, and "Concert Conversations" preceding all MasterWorks concerts.

"The program will be visible, probably in November, after our reps teach the teachers," said Landry. An April 7 concert, with LinkUP! students either singing or performing on recorders with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra at Blaisdell, will culminate the program. Further, a representative from Carnegie will make at least one visit after LinkUP! is in place.

Teachers or schools can apply with the symphony for participation in LinkUP!, said Landry. Liberal arts, as well as music teachers, are welcome. Call 524-0815. There is no cost to the participating schools.

Landry said while the LinkUP! money is for one year, it's possible the relationship can be extended.

Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com, or fax 525-8055.