Michigan Philharmonic Gets $1,000 for Kids Music Programs

Michigan Philharmonic was recently awarded $1,000 as part of Community Financial Credit Union's third annual Summer of Sharing campaign. 

Michigan Philharmonic was granted the money for its CLASSical Music for Kids program, including the Koncert for Kids, which brings music to the Plymouth-Canton, Wayne-Westland and Van Buren school districts. 

The Koncert for Kids is performed for every fourth-grader in the three districts, more than 3,000 students, according to Michigan Philharmonic's Executive Director Beth Stewart.

"We make this concert program available for little or no cost to the students," Stewart said. "This concert is designed with kids in mind – in 45 minutes they hear Mozart and Beethoven, plus meet Composer, Andre Myers who wrote and narrates a piece called 'Paddle to the Sea' based on the book by the same name- which is required reading in fourth grade. Students also learn about all the instruments of the orchestra, get a conducting lesson and end the concert singing along with the orchestra as they play the theme from “The Simpsons”.  It’s not only educational, but it’s fun."

The CLASSical Music program is designed to supplement and enhance school music programs, educate students about composers, music and the four instrument families of the orchestra as well as hear classical music. It also gives students the experience of live performances with professional musicians. 

CLASSical Music for Kids consists of three different programs that include in-class demonstrations for third-graders, the Koncert for Kids and the DVD introducing kids to Meyers. 

Stewart said that while this is the first time Michigan Philharmonic has received a Summer of Sharing grant, Community Financial has been very generous by supporting the Holiday Concert and other programs. 

Community Financial will continue donating $1,000 every Monday through Friday until Aug. 30, to non-profit organizations nominated during the Summer of Sharing campaign. Nominations can be made at www.SummerofSharing.org.