BSO at Strathmore Launches BSO on the Go Initiative to Serve Montgomery County Elementary Schools

Free education program brings Orchestra musicians into classrooms to teach music-based curricula

N. Bethesda, Md. (April 13, 2007) - The BSO at Strathmore has launched a new education initiative, BSO on the Go, bringing Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians into area schools to teach specially designed, music-based curricula. Using music as a tool to explore concepts such as cooperation and communication, BSO on the Go expands the BSO's educational presence in Montgomery County. The program is available to public and private elementary schools throughout Montgomery County and is completely free of charge to students and to schools. Since the BSO at Strathmore began offering BSO on the Go in February 2007, more than 25 schools have enrolled in these interactive workshops. Editor's note: Members of the media are invited to observe and cover a BSO on the Go session Monday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. with BSO violinist Ellen Pendleton Troyer and Takoma Park Elementary School first grade students. See below for more information.

"Education of future audiences is essential to the long-term success of the BSO and all orchestras.  BSO on the Go programs engage the imagination of young listeners and excite them about playing an instrument," said Michael Mael, BSO at Strathmore vice president.

Led by individual musicians or a small group of musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, each BSO on the Go program encourages children to think creatively while exposing them to classical music and symphony orchestras. Currently the program consists of a variety of distinct, 45-minute interactive workshops, including "Vibration!," "Cooking with Music" and "Sounds, Images and Stories."

Illustrative of the interactive presentations is "Sounds, Images and Stories," created by BSO violinist Ellen Pendleton Troyer to help children explore ways in which both music and words are pieced together to tell stories. The students learn how to tell a "sound story" and then help Ms. Troyer perform "A Day in the Life of the Rainforest," using only sound made by their hands and feet. "This program gets kids excited about learning," commented Ms. Troyer, "In the end, they are making sounds they've never made before and creating stories of their own. We use music as the tool to inspire their creativity."

Teachers and administrators may enroll their classes in two back-to-back BSO on the Go performances-nearly two hours of music education-on select Mondays and Fridays throughout the school year. All workshops are appropriate for children in kindergarten through grade five and may be customized based on grade level and class size. The BSO on the Go program is expected to expand during the 2007-2008 season, offering a wider variety of workshops and accommodating more schools.

Throughout its 91-year history, the Grammy Award-winning Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has offered an array of education and outreach programs; BSO on the Go expands the Orchestra's educational presence in Montgomery County. In addition to BSO on the Go, the BSO at Strathmore offers educational programs for people of all ages, including master classes, lecture series and mid-week education concerts.

BSO on the Go is funded through the efforts of the BSO at Strathmore's Women of the Symphony Society and through grants from local and regional foundations.

Teachers, administrators and parents interested in bringing BSO on the Go to their schools may contact BSO at Strathmore Vice President Michael Mael, 301.581.5210 or mmael@bsoatstrathmore.org.

Members of the media are invited to observe and cover a BSO on the Go program at Takoma Park Elementary School.

Date:  Monday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Location: Takoma Park Elementary School
7511 Holly Ave.
Takoma Park, Md. 20912

Program: "Sounds, Images and Stories"

Who:  Ellen Pendleton Troyer, BSO violinist
  First-grade students from Takoma Park Elementary School