The Music Education Outreach Program is a part of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s mission to enrich, educate, and engage the community through music. The KSO Board of Directors has expanded the program to include the three categories below.
KSO Music Education Outreach: Musical Instruments Support
The Music Education Outreach Fund was established in the fall of 2019 by the Kishwaukee Symphony Associates (KSA) and is now operated by the KSO Board of Directors. This program helps orchestra and band programs in DeKalb provide musical instruments for deserving middle school students with family financial constraints the opportunity to study instrumental music on quality instruments. DeKalb middle school music educators apply for an annual grant to aid in the purchase of orchestra and band instruments to lend to students in need, and to provide monetary support for instrument repairs.
In the spring of 2022, the KSA’s program was transferred to the KSO Board of Directors with the goal to continue and expand the program. This grant program encourages DeKalb middle school students to engage and succeed in middle school orchestra and band programs with the hope students will develop a love and skill for music performance ensembles. Many students in DeKalb are interested in music but are unable to be included in instrumental ensembles because of the financial strains of obtaining a quality instrument. This program provides support to make instruments available at their school, hoping to make a positive impact in the lives of these students who otherwise would be unable to rent or otherwise obtain such instruments. It is our goal to raise enough funds to eventually expand the program to support all DeKalb County middle school orchestra and band programs in the future.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund, through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
KSO Music Education Outreach: High School Senior Scholarships
The KSO will annually award a $500 scholarship to select local high school student(s) who have played in instrumental music ensembles in high school and will be members of such ensembles in college. Applications are available each January, and each recipient of this scholarship is formally announced at the KSO Spring Concert in May and at their high school awards night.
To learn more about the scholarship program, criteria, and application process, click here.
KSO Music Education Outreach: Children’s Concerts and Small Ensemble Performances
The KSO performs a special invitation-only Children’s Concert annually in November for area elementary and middle school students. This provides an opportunity for students to experience a live orchestral performance at the historic Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb. This concert is supported in part by a grant from the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund through the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
For more information, or to secure tickets for the KSO Children’s Concert, please contact KSO General Manager Courtney Hanna-McNamara, at contact@kishorchestra.org.
The KSO also provides small music ensembles for performances at DeKalb County schools. This presents an opportunity for students to experience such an ensemble performance and see orchestral instruments in an up-close setting at their school. These small ensemble performances are supported in part by a grant from the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund, through the DeKalb County Community Foundation. For more information, or to schedule a KSO small ensemble visit to your school, please contact Music Education Outreach Chair, Deb Loitz, at musicoutreach@kishorchestra.org.
Support of Music Education Outreach
Since the transition and expansion of the KSO Music Education Outreach program to the above three categories, fundraising efforts have begun to build finances to support DeKalb County music educators and their students. The KSO and its patrons are grateful for the contributions of the many generous individuals and organizations who have supported the orchestra. Donations to the Music Education Outreach Program are welcome at any time. Click here to learn more about how you can support this program.
For more information about the KSO Music Education Outreach Program, please contact Music Education Outreach Chair, Deb Loitz, at musicoutreach@kishorchestra.org.
