A Symphony of Fun for Families
NSO Community Festival Encourages Children to Try Out Instruments
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
The scene at the Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Campus was something that might have had Brahms or Mozart pulling out his hair in frustration. The game room was filled with children who were blowing trombones, manipulating violins and creating interesting sounds with many other expensive musical instruments.
Edmund Fleet, executive director of the facility in Southeast Washington, saw -- and heard -- things differently.
"This is music to my ears," Fleet said Saturday, as he watched children having a good time in an instrumental "petting zoo" being run by the women's auxiliary of the National Symphony Orchestra.
It was part of the NSO Community Music and Arts Festival at the campus, which is known by the acronym THEARC. The symphony teamed with several organizations -- including the Washington Ballet, the Levine School of Music, the Corcoran Museum of Art and NASA -- to host the event, which offered hundreds of children a close-up look at the orchestra and images from space during a concert program titled "Sound Science."
"What we want to do is build deeper connections in our community," said Warren Williams, manager of community relations for the orchestra.
In several art studios at THEARC, students had the chance to draw and create items that linked the "Sound Science" theme to NASA spacecraft and rockets. In addition to the science program, the event included a family concert with the Washington Ballet and students from the Levine School, a musical story hour and other children's activities.
As she watched her daughters attempt to play violins and other instruments, Judith Stockman said, "This is a great opportunity for children to express themselves through the arts."
Although 9-year-old Malik Walton looked as though he was trying to saw the violin in half with a bow, he was confident that music was being made. "I like playing the violin," he said.
The festival began with violinist Marissa Regni and harpist Dotian Levalier hosting a musical story hour with a group of children who were invited to bring their favorite stuffed animals to the "Teddy Bear Concert." The musicians appeared to be having as much fun as the youngsters.
"This is absolutely the most fun thing that I do," Regni said. "At a time when the arts seem to be dwindling, it is important to remind kids of using their imagination in all forms of music."
Other groups participating in the festival included the Boys & Girls Clubs, Corcoran ArtReach and the National Endowment for the Arts.
As Maestro Mouse, wearing a tuxedo and carrying a baton, posed for pictures, NSO Associate Conductor Emil de Cou led the orchestra in "Sounds of Space," a medley that included "The Imperial March," which is Darth Vader's theme from the "Star Wars" movies, and other selections. Above the conductor, a large screen displayed images of Earth and the heavens.
"It means the world to me," de Cou said of the festival. "This is one of the most important events that we do all year. . . . All of my colleagues at the National Symphony started off like this, especially the students at the Levine School. They couldn't be in any better hands."
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