Grant Awarded: November 2004

Type of Grant: Extending the Reach Grant

Sponsor: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Contact: Jane Rooks Ross, 269-349-7759, jrooksross@kalamazoosymphony.com

Award: $7,500

Website: http://www.kalamazoosymphony.com

“This project demonstrates the many effective ways we can reach and educate the school children of southwestern Michigan,” said Janice Fedewa, Executive Director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “The Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra will provide the opportunity for students to explore the life and times of Beethoven through a curriculum, visiting musicians, and concert performances.”

“ The World of … Beethoven” is a collaborative project involving the KSO, Kalamazoo College, the Kalamazoo Public School District, the Allegan Public School District and the Decatur Public School District. A Musicians-in Residence component for 3rd and 4th graders at three Kalamazoo Public Schools (Winchell, Woods Lake, and Kng-Westwood) will concentrate its spring 2005 academic semester on Beethoven as part of its Great People/Overcoming Challenges KSO program. Students and families will be invited to attend an April 17, 2005, public performance of “The World of Beethoven” at Kalamazoo College featuring the KSO, and to be rebroadcast on WMUK radio. A modified performance will tour to Allegan, Decatur, and Coldwater from April 14 through April 20, 2005. A companion booklet will be created and made available to all students and concert attendees. Approximately 1,550 adults and 1,000 elementary school children will be directly benefited by the project, not including the radio broadcast.