Music Education in a Year of Transition

MUSIC EDUCATION

IN A YEAR OF TRANSITION

Our children’s excitement in gathering to sing, play their instruments, and form enduring friendships was palpable during 2021/22—as West Michigan Symphony Children’s Choir, Debut and Premier Strings and Link Up returned to full live participation. The programs came back stronger than ever with an influx of new and returning students.

LINK UP

This free beginner music education program, a collaboration with Carnegie Hall, impacted 3,000 area Elementary students last season as Link Up returned to live after two years of virtual-only. The students learned to read music and performed melodies on recorders along with the orchestra. The confetti finish was a big hit with everyone—except the Frauenthal Center custodial staff!

WMS CHILDREN’S CHOIR

One of the high points of the Children’s Choir’s spring was being back onstage with WMS during Link Up for the first time in two years. “We are Music Together” was the title of their March Frauenthal concert with the two string ensembles. Appropriately, the evening began with “How Can I Keep From Singing,” featuring moving solos from five members.

DEBUT & PREMIER STRINGS

Our string students returned to live with performances at Link Up, a spring concert with the Children’s Choir, and a fall standalone concert. Far left: Ava Williams wows fellow players with her impromptu “Queen of the Night” aria from Mozart’s Magic Flute. Left, Williams and Naomi Zziwambazza share a buoyant moment backstage at the Frauenthal after the latter’s solo performance of the Haydn Cello Concerto no. 1 during the spring concert.

CLICKITY CLACK HO HO HO

It’s always a big hit, but last December’s “Ho Ho Ho” concert was so popular it was offered four times. This marked the first live presentations since 2019 of WMS’s unique holiday musical storytime for children. The Click Clack Moo series— of which “Ho Ho Ho” is the holiday installment—is based on the eponymous children’s books by Doreen Cronin. 5