The mission of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra is to enrich our community by providing high-quality traditional and contemporary symphonic music and life-shaping educational experiences.
The education programs of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra are sequentially designed, created as age-appropriate music education experiences, and provide an opportunity for students to experience musical performances at a world-class and professional level.
Instrument Petting Zoo
Each summer, Ovation! Volunteers of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, host an Instrument Petting Zoo event in many Long Beach neighborhood libraries. These enthusiastic volunteers give a delightful and educational presentation designed to pique the interest of very young children (sometimes as young as 3 years old) in making music.
Using orchestra-owned musical instruments, they explain how the instruments of the orchestra work, how they make different sounds, and how they fit into the orchestra. Following the volunteers' presentation, children have a chance to hold and play these instruments – a unique opportunity for children and parents alike.
The joy on a child's face when making beautiful sounds on an instrument for the first time is truly priceless.
This presentation also acts as a precursor to the LBSO's more in-depth Elementary Ensemble school visits in the 2nd- and 3rd-grades.
Miller Children's Hospital
The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra enjoys a special relationship with Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach. Working with Music Therapist Laurel Terreri, individual LBSO musicians play for young patients (through age 18) in inpatient units – in the hallways, in individual rooms, in the playrooms and Sibling Time, or on the hospital's closed-circuit TV, the Giggles Studio. As stated on the hospital's website "Not only is it beneficial for children to play music, but listening to it promotes a relaxing and healing environment for patients and their family members." This special experience for the children in the hospital helps to bring some much-needed normalization to their lives. Music gives the children a unique chance to be creative and also helps to keep them emotionally stable during their difficult stay in the hospital.
Elementary Ensembles
Each year, the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra partners with the Long Beach Unified School District and two schools in Wilmington for presentation of elementary ensembles for second- and third-graders. LBSO musicians, performing in ensembles as string ensemble, woodwind ensemble, brass ensemble and percussion ensemble, give an exciting and informative presentation that offers students an in-depth knowledge of each instrument, its related "family" members, and the role each instrument or family plays within the orchestra. In preparation for this ensemble visit, LBUSD and Wilmington teachers present a lesson about the instrument families. Students then can appreciate and actively participate in the presentation. Each ensemble brings a unique and special view point, and each is an informative, exciting andmemorable experience. Currently there are two string ensembles and one ensemble each for woodwind, brass, and percussion.
STRING ENSEMBLE – Two Violins, Viola, Cello
Julie Metz, Leader
INTRODUCTION TO THE STRING FAMILY
An Introduction to the String Family is an interactive 45 minute Ensemble Performance Lesson aligned with the California Visual and Performing Arts Framework and the California Music Education Standards for the Second and Third Grades.
This program is produced by Julie Metz, a professional musician and credentialed teacher. Julie has created educational programs for the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Pacific Symphonies. To see a video of the exciting program, go to her website at www.julielmetz.com
STRING ENSEMBLE – Two Violins, Viola, Cello
Cynthia Moussas, Leader
In an interactive and fun manner, the string ensemble introduces the instruments of the string family. Through games, students learn how music can express emotions, how to follow a melody as it moves from instrument to instrument, and how musicians follow a conductor. Lots of audience participation adds to an engaging performance. Members include Cynthia Moussas, violin; Linda Stone, violin; Kira Blumberg, viola; Andy Honea, cello
WOODWIND ENSEMBLE – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, French Horn, Bassoon
Joseph and Laura Stone, Leaders
THE LIFE and TIMES of WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
The LBSO Woodwind Quintet's Ensemble show "The Life and Times of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" takes the students on a musical journey back to 18th century Europe. Costumed musicians, a colorful tapestry backdrop, props, posters and of course the great music of Mozart, are all employed to help bring this important period in music history alive. The program begins with the quintet performing the Overture to The Magic Flute then the flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and horn are each explained and demonstrated by the musicians. In the process the young people get more than just a music lesson as concepts in geography, art history, and insights into the day-to-day living of the time help them achieve a more relatable understanding of this great genius and what he means to classical music. Fabulous music is performed - the lightning fast tour of the Mozart Concerto Medley (themes from 5 concertos in two and a half minutes), Variations on 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star', and the rousing grand finale with a dozen students playing percussion instruments along with the quintet in the Toy Symphony. Members include, Laura Stone, flute; Joe Stone, oboe; Paul Castillo, clarinet; Leslie Lashinsky, bassoon; and either Kristin Morreson or Stephanie O'Keefe, French horn.
BRASS ENSEMBLE – Two Trumpets, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba
Marissa Benedict and Doug Tornquist, Leaders
The brass quintet of the Symphony brings its excitement to elementary schools in Long Beach and Wilmington. Each instrument is demonstrated with sound, stories and personality, capturing the attention of the students and teachers. Selections of music chosen for their impact and relevance are packed into a concise and entertaining 30 minute program. The students leave the concert thrilled by the sounds of brass music, warmed by the friendliness and humor of the musicians, and aware of the various instruments and general concepts of music. Players and instruments include Marissa Benedict, trumpet, Darren Mulder, trumpet, Al Veeh, trombone, Steve Durnin, French horn, and Doug Tornquist, tuba.
PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE – Percussion Instruments
Gary Long, leader
Lynda Sue Marks, creator
PERCUSSION PAINTS PICTURES
This exciting, entertaining and informative ensemble uses three percussionists and one narrator and is based on typical percussion used in symphonic literature. Children are invited to use their mind's eye (their imagination) as they travel to different countries based on the percussion sounds they hear: Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Triangle, Castagnettes, Xylophone, Chimes, Glockenspiel, Woodblock, Tambourine, Brushes, Sticks, and a whole array of Sound Effects.
The highlight of each show is an actual sword fight on stage whilst Tchaikovsky's famous Romeo and Juliet segment is heard. Other compositions heard include those by Bizet, Rimsky-Korsakov,Glazunoff, Bernstein, and Copland. Multiple visual effects keep children "on their toes" and "at the edge of their seats". The narrator engages each child to march, conduct, clap rhythms, share dialogue and even learn audience decorum fit for the symphony hall experience. Teachers at every school claim that this is a dynamic, fast paced and delightfully informative experience for their students.
LBSO commissioned Lynda Sue Marks, Principal Percussion, to create this show 15 years ago. Cast includes: Gary Long, Principal Timpani; Lynda Sue Marks, Principal Percussion; Dr. Dave Gerhart, Percussion; and Jamieson Price, Narrator/Actor/Swordsman.
Miller Foundation
Symphony Concerts for Young People
January 18 and 19, 2012
Each year, fourth- and fifth-grade students of the Long Beach Unified School District look forward to their musical field trip to the Orchestra's home venue, the Terrace Theater at the Performing Arts Center in downtown Long Beach.
Through the LBSO Elementary Ensemble program and the work of their own LBUSD music teachers, students have learned about the instruments of the orchestra and the families to which they belong. Now, at the home of their own Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, they experience, often for the first time, stirring orchestral works performed by world-class musicians.
This season's program, created and conducted by LBSO Music Director Enrique Arturo Diemecke, focuses on one of our natural resources, water – hence the title, "Rain, River, Sea and Ocean".Maestro Diemecke has invited the LBUSD All-District Orchestra to perform this season's concert with the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.
These Symphony Concerts for Young People are made possible by the generous support of the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation and are not public performances.
"Rain, River, Sea and Ocean"
Program
| Johannes Strauss, Jr. | An der schönenblauen Donau (On the Beautiful Blue Danube) |
| Rimsky-Korsakov | The Sea and Sinbad's Ship from Scheherazade |
| Mendelssohn | The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) |
| Smetana | Vitava (The Moldau) from Ma Vlast (My Fatherland) |
| Grofe | Cloudburst from Grand Canyon Suite |
| Handel | Hornpipe from Water Music |
| Rosas | SobrelasOlas (Over the Waves) |
Open Rehearsal for Middle School Orchestra Students
Outstanding middle school orchestra students are invited to observe the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra in rehearsal for the Symphony Concerts for Young People. This gives them a rare opportunity to see professional musicians work, to observe their rehearsal behavior andthen to note how quickly the orchestra progresses. The students are provided with program notes and questions to enhance this learning experience. Students are always impressed by how attentive professional musicians are to the conductor, how quickly they correct mistakes, and how well they play together. This observation helps them to improve their own orchestral experience at school, and inspires them to keep working hard on their own instruments. The observation is followed by a Q&A session with the LBSO's Education Managerduring which students can discuss what they have seen, what they learned, and what they plan on doing to change and improve their own musical experiences at school.
High School: Side-By-Side in Performance
In alternating seasons, outstanding student musicians in the Long Beach Unified School District's Choir or Orchestra are invited to perform on stage alongside the professional musicians of the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra for the Miller Foundation Symphony Concerts for Young People.
LBUSD student musician performing side-by-side with LBSO musician.
LBUSD student musicians stand for recognition by the music director and applause by LBUSD 4th- and 5th-grade students.
This rare and very exciting opportunity gives these student musicians an inside look at how a professional orchestra operates as well as the expectations they need to have for themselves in order to pursue a professional career in music. The LBSO musicians enjoy the opportunity to share wisdom and knowledge from their years of experience, and the students learn first-hand the excitement, intensity, and thrill of a high-caliber performance created through hard work, professionalism, and discipline.
This year's Side-By-Side concert is performed with the LBUSD's All-District High School Orchestra. The program,"Rain, River, Sea and Ocean", is listed above under Miller Foundation Symphony Concerts for Young People.
High School Volunteers
The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra is privileged to have a thriving relationship with talented high school students in the Long Beach Unified School District. For every Classics concert, high school volunteers act as ushers, welcoming our patrons, distributing programs and other promotional materials, and helping our patrons find their seats. They bring a youthful energy to each performance.
For each Orchestra POPS! Concert, the students arrive early on Saturday morning to set up the tables, place decorations, and make other necessary preparations.
These volunteer opportunities connect the students to the LBSO and the hours they earn help the students fulfill their community service requirement for high school graduation. Each student receives a complimentary ticket to the concert for which they volunteer.
Overture
The Long Beach Symphony Orchestra has a special opportunity for those high school students who demonstrate a high level of maturity, responsibility, and dedication. Students who volunteer for at least one year and demonstrate above-average leadership skills are invited to join Overture, where they will work more closely with the LBSO staff and have more responsibility. These special students also act as leaders for the other high school volunteers and have the chance to develop their own sense of independence and integrity.
