On Saturday, November 22 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, members of the Helena Symphony Orchestra continue this Season’s Education Concerts with a Symphony Kids program titled The Tortoise & The Hare, where an interactive concert featuring actors, narrator, and the musicians of the Helena Symphony Orchestra will present a concert focusing on tempo in music. Created for children ages 5 to 10, Symphony Kids is a free one hour concert for all children and their families. As one of the Symphony’s educational programs, Symphony Kids brings the power of live instrumental music into the hearts of children with specific concerts designed to introduce them to the world of music and instruments.
“Live instrumental music is a wonder to discover,” says Barbara Berg, HSO Principal Flute and one of the creators of the program. “These concerts are designed to make a personal and relevant connection with the children, and we are thrilled to invite children to hear fun, imaginative, and interactive performances by the Helena Symphony Orchestra musicians. This introduction of classical music to children becomes a friendship that lasts a lifetime.”
Performed in the more intimate setting of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, children get to enjoy up-close and personal performances meant to enrich and enhance the great music education in the Helena area. Based on the famous fable, The Tortoise & The Hare will tell a story using actors and music by Dvořák and Mozart to capture the fun and education uses of different speeds in music. “More than any other component in music, rhythm and tempo are the most important building blocks in all music,” explain Music Director Allan R. Scott. “Even more importantly, Symphony Kids aims to also teach important life lessons. While The Tortoise & The Hare’s overall lesson is that ‘slow and steady prevails,’ the story always reminds us that competition is not always about you and someone else, and that it is more important to focus on your own goals and to win your own race.”
The program will be narrator by HSO’s Principal Flute and noted educator Barbara Berg, and led by Music Director Allan R. Scott, the two that created the concert. Symphony Kids is a free program, and children receive an activity book, and are welcomed to enjoy the Instrument Petting Zoo sponsored by Piccolo’s Music immediately following the concert in the lobby.
The concert is sponsored by generous support from American Chemet.