The Omaha Symphony’s More than Music program recently received a grant from the League of American Orchestras.
Adam Goos, Vice President of Education and Community Partnerships for the Omaha Symphony, says the symphony was one of 22 orchestras out of 200 applicants that received grants.
Goos says this is the 5th year for the symphony’s More than Music program.
More than Music is a partnership between the symphony and Girls, Inc. Goos says the program pairs 4th through 6th grade musicians who are studying music in their respective schools with mentors.
"We pair them with advanced high school or college aged musicians to basically have music lessons once a week for a period of time. Over the course of 12-15 weeks, there’s a serious of events. This includes music lessons and mentor bonding as well as peer mentoring.”
Goos says More than Music seeks to give students an opportunity to explore their passion for music and provide them with someone they can connect with.
The high school and college students that mentor the Girls, Inc. musicians are in turn mentored by musicians from the symphony.
This year’s More than Music program runs February through the end of April.
Goos says on the last day of the program, the elementary students give a mini-recital onstage at the Holland Center for their families before a symphony concert.