The South Florida Symphony Orchestra Education Program By Denny Patterson
W
hen Maestra Sebrina Alfonso founded the South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) in 1997, a cornerstone of the organization’s mission was dedicated to arts education. The Symphony in the Schools Program was created, which includes thoughtfully curated, compelling, and fun classical music programs, specifically to engage children who most likely have not been exposed to the artform in the past. Recently, the SFSO was invited to collaborate with Carnegie Hall and its Link Up Program, providing a free, high quality, year-long curriculum that teachers can easily implement. The resources have been digitally enhanced and made available for both in-person and remote teaching settings. SFSO President and CEO Jacqueline Lorber talked more with OutClique about the education program. Denny Patterson: Hi, Jacqueline! Thank you for taking some time to chat with me about the SFSO Education Program. Can you tell us more about it? Jacqueline Lorber: Since the inception of our transformative program, we have reached more than 85,000 underserved students in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. During the 2019-2020 school year alone, over 10,000 children attended a free Symphony in the Schools multimedia-infused concert. We have strong community partnerships with the school districts in South Florida, The Kennedy Centers’ Turnaround Arts Program, and now Carnegie
Hall’s Link Up Program to serve culturally and economically disadvantaged children who would otherwise have little to no access to orchestra music. In addition to children’s programming, we also perform these programs for the community. On March 14, 2021, there is a free livestream concert of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, in partnership with the Rhythm Foundation and City of Miami Beach, as part of the Arts in the Park series. We hope music lovers both young and old will join us for this family friendly virtual concert. The symphonic fairytale of a brave, young boy who captures a big, bad wolf, comes to life through the narrator and the instruments that illustrate it. This is a great introduction to the orchestra for children. Their imaginations come alive when they connect the various instruments of the orchestra and Peter and his animal friends.
DP JL
What do you hope participants take away from this program?
We hope that music enriches their lives. In addition to the benefits mentioned previously, classical music just makes you feel good. Listening to music lowers stress, aids in relaxation, and boosts memory.
DP JL
How will this program benefit the SFSO as a whole?
SFSO’s mission is to entertain, inspire, and educate the communities we serve. Enriching the lives of students is just part of our DNA. We are always thinking creatively and strategically about how we can expand this impactful program and reach more and more children.
To read the full interview, visit www.OutClique.com. For more information on SFSO, visit www.SouthFloridaSymphony.org. 124 | OutClique.com
