Contact:
Rebecca Madigan
rmadigan@newwestsymphony.org
(805) 435-2779

New West Symphony Awarded California Arts Council “Arts Education: Exposure” and “Arts Education: Extension” Grants

Grants awarded to support Symphonic Adventures concerts for students and Laby Harmony Project of New West Symphony.

State funds of $22,950 support attendance at performances for students with limited access and after-school and summer arts education programs.

[Thousand Oaks, CA – June 12, 2018] The California Arts Council announced its plans to award $15,300 to New West Symphony Association as part of its Arts Education: Exposure program, and $7,650 to the Laby Harmony Project of New West Symphony as part of its Arts Education: Extension program.

Arts Education: Exposure Grant for Symphonic Adventures

As a segment of the California Arts Council Arts Education grant opportunities, Exposure grants support attendance at performances and exhibitions for students who may otherwise have limited access to these experiences. The impact of student attendance at these events is complemented by pre- and post-attendance educational activities.

Symphonic Adventures is a theatrical orchestral concert which serves 5,000 children annually with many attending a live concert for the first time. New West Symphony will use the Carnegie Hall Weill Institute’s Link Up Program, The Orchestra Swings, which provides in-depth classroom lessons for 3rd to 5th grade students, and culminates in interactive theatrical orchestral concerts performed by the New West Symphony in March 2019 at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. In partnership with 15 local school districts and 40 schools in Ventura County, New West Symphony provides teacher curriculum, leading to one-half hour per week of musical instruction through mastery of repertoire and the exceptional opportunity to perform together with a symphony orchestra.

“New West Symphony is delighted that the California Arts Council has awarded this grant for our Symphonic Adventures Program,” said Natalia Staneva, Executive Director. “We received excellent feedback from the students who participate each year. Here is a letter from a student named Sharlene (2/28/2018) who attended Symphonic Adventures:

“Hi, my name is Sharlene, and I am a third grader from Aspen Elementary. Thank you for inviting my class and me to sing and play the recorder with you. I play the piano. You inspired me to try another instrument such as the violin. I really liked singing “To Make Words Sing” because I liked the lyrics to that song. You also inspired me that when I grow up I feel like I want to join an orchestra. I love to listen to music in the car, at home, or at a gym. Whenever I listen to music I feel calm and relaxed. It makes me feel better when something goes wrong to listen to music. Thank you again for inviting me.”

New West Symphony is one of 113 grantees chosen for the Arts Education: Exposure program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

“Studies have shown that projects like Symphonic Adventures that offer real-world, authentic interaction with the arts have a rewarding effect on learning ability,” said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. “These early life experiences can spark interests, provoke thought, and build a student’s capacity for success. The path of what’s possible is widened by every opportunity to step outside the familiar.”

To view a complete listing of all Arts Education Exposure grantees, visit http://arts.ca.gov/programs/files/FY1718_ProjectDescriptions_AE-EXP.pdf

Arts Education: Exposure Grant for Laby Harmony Project of New West Symphony

The California Arts Council announced its plans to award $7,650 to the Laby Harmony Project of New West Symphony as part of its Arts Education: Extension program.

As a segment of the California Arts Council Arts Education grant opportunities, Extension grants support arts education programs for PreK-12 students that operate after school and during the summer, on school sites, in artistic venues, and in community settings. The intention of the program is to offer young people sequential, hands-on training in artistic disciplines, including dance, literary arts, media arts, music, theatre, and visual arts.

The New West Symphony Laby Harmony Project provides tuition-free music instruction and instruments on loan to children, free of charge. Harmony Project provides after-school music training to low-income children during the academic calendar year as well as through a summer program to help fill the gap in arts education in Ventura County. Program instruction begins in third grade and follows students through high school.

Anne Case, Laby Harmony Project Director, said “We are delighted with the California Arts Council’s commitment to our program, and welcome its generous support. Our students and their parents greatly value the education they receive, and they give us valuable feedback that tells us we are providing important education—here is what they tell us:”

“I think it has helped with his math…[and] his self-esteem…just being focused and having a positive attitude towards things. He is on the autism spectrum, and so the social aspect of school is not easy for him, but I think it has made him more friendly.”

“The classes are amazing not just for the kids, but for the parents as well. Because you see a change in their personality where before they would react to something and now they are calm. And my daughter is shy, but now she can perform in front of people. And it is huge, being that young and to be able to get on stage, have butterflies, but…know it is okay, and then still be able to perform.”

“Since my son started playing the cello, he talks to us more. He talks to us a lot about music. There is more communication.”

New West Symphony is one of 169 grantees chosen for the Arts Education: Extension program. The award was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council.

“The Arts Education Extension program capitalizes on the potential to create arts learning opportunities for California’s young people whenever and wherever possible,” said Nashormeh Lindo, California Arts Council Chair. “Projects like Laby Harmony Project allow for the positive impacts of arts engagement to continue undeterred.”

About New West Symphony

Founded in 1995, the New West Symphony is a professional orchestra that draws its players from the rich talent pool of professional Los Angeles area musicians. The Symphony presents an annual Masterpiece Series concert season and provides many educational opportunities for local youth through its annual Symphonic Adventures concerts, its traveling Music Van, and the Harmony Project of Ventura County. For more information go to https://www.newwestsymphony.org and follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newwestsymphony.

 

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