To the Editor:

During March, our nation celebrates "Music in Our Schools Month." ONNY wishes to publicly acknowledge the incredible teaching that takes place across Northern New York through the orchestra, band, choral and general music programs in our public schools. We are indeed fortunate to have such outstanding and dedicated teachers, who in my opinion, are second to none.

The opportunity that a child has to study music through one of these programs is summed up beautifully by ONNY's Young Artist Coordinator, Nancy Peschko, a former public school and private music teacher herself. In a letter to teachers about our Young Artist Competition, she wrote, “Studying an instrument gives a child an opportunity to develop the discipline to practice faithfully and consistently, build confidence in their ability to problem-solve, listen acutely and stand up in front of an audience. It also gives a child an avenue for self-expression and creativity."

When I founded the Orchestra in 1988, one of my main goals was to create youth mission that would partner with and enhance the great teaching that was already taking place in our region. For many years, CPS and ONNY teamed up to produce children's concerts that involved busing students into the concert hall or traveling to schools for programs that were designed to educate, entertain and inspire students. A recent grant from the Northern New York Community Foundation allows ONNY to resume classroom visits with chamber music ensembles.

For 35 years, ONNY, like other professional symphony orchestras across the country, has engaged in education and outreach activities focused on youth. Public school children have benefited from ONNY programs in many ways, such as:

• Enjoyed children's concerts, produced in collaboration with Community Performance Series, whereby they were bused to the concert hall to collectively experience a program

• Participated in the ONNY Holiday Festival Chorus for junior high and high school students, who for many were able to sing with a full orchestra for the first time

• Received individualized lessons by ONNY musicians

• Competed in the James and Katherine Andrews Young Artist Competition, which for seventeen years has offered an unparalleled opportunity for highly talented students in Northern and Central New York to vie for cash prizes and the opportunity to solo with ONNY by performing works from memory

• Performed as Crane Student Apprentices alongside professional musicians in ONNY concerts

This year, the Challenge for Young Artists will offer junior high and high school musicians the change to obtain feedback on their NYSSMA solos from ONNY musicians.

Elementary school children will delight in Oceanophony, by Bruce Adolphe, a 30-minute video about various ocean creatures set to music. Students will also enjoy Meet the Orchestra Family, a video series in which ONNY musicians introduce and demonstrate their instruments with the goal of helping youngsters to select an instrument to pursue through their school music program. Both programs were co-produced by Community Performance Series and will be streamed to schools this year.

Like so many symphony orchestras around the country, ONNY is a valuable resource for the youth in the region. Besides offering a variety of concerts each year for all ages with music from different genres, we also represent a valuable resource that includes a pool of gifted musicians who teach, mentor and perform in smaller chamber ensembles throughout our region.

Music truly is a gift for humanity and especially for children. ONNY seeks "to enrich the quality of life for all people in our region by sharing the power of music to inspire, educate, and entertain." This mission particularly meaningful when it comes to the youth of this region. ONNY looks forward to partnering with outstanding and committed music teachers not just during National Music In Our Schools Month, but throughout the year for many years to come.

Kenneth Andrews
Music Director