The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society provides not only fine classical listening experiences for all audiences with the public concerts in its subscription season, but helps fill the void of arts education by providing unique musical opportunities for children in our valley. The Philharmonic begins its sequential music education program by introducing local third-graders to classical music instruments through our Music Van program, followed by a field trip to a live music performance in the fourth-grade. The opportunity for young musicians to audition and perform is provided with the annual Youth Showcase event.
Our educational programs would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors & grantors
The Music Van
The Music Van arrives annually and travels to elementary schools in the Santa Maria Valley giving a short presentation to the third-grade classrooms. We work with small groups of 10 to 15 students and give them all an opportunity to discover the various instruments of the orchestra and actually perform on them.
Children’s Concerts
For the past 10 years, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has been presenting Children’s Concerts to thousands of fourth graders in the Santa Maria Valley. In 2015 over 2,500 children were bused to a single location where the orchestra performed Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The children are transfixed as each instrument is demonstrated for them by principal musicians of the orchestra. The orchestra then proceeds with the story told by a narrator, with each character of the story represented by an instrument of the orchestra.
Youth Showcase
Many of the children we introduce to music with the above two programs go on to play instruments of their own. To encourage their development and the music appreciation of everyone in the community, The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents an annual Youth Showcase.
The Music Van
The Music Van arrives annually and travels to elementary schools in the Santa Maria Valley giving a short presentation to the third-grade classrooms. We work with small groups of 10 to 15 students and give them all an opportunity to discover the various instruments of the orchestra and actually perform on them.
Children’s Concerts
For the past 10 years, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society has been presenting Children’s Concerts to thousands of fourth graders in the Santa Maria Valley. In 2015 over 2,500 children were bused to a single location where the orchestra performed Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf. The children are transfixed as each instrument is demonstrated for them by principal musicians of the orchestra. The orchestra then proceeds with the story told by a narrator, with each character of the story represented by an instrument of the orchestra.
Youth Showcase
Many of the children we introduce to music with the above two programs go on to play instruments of their own. To encourage their development and the music appreciation of everyone in the community, The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society presents an annual Youth Showcase.