WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (November 18, 2019) – The Winston-Salem Symphony’s Piedmont Learning Academy for Youth Music (P.L.A.Y. Music) program will present their Fall Extravaganza featuring the kindergarten and first grade students from Easton Elementary School. They will perform on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at Easton Elementary School at 734 Clemmonsville Road in Winston-Salem. These talented P.L.A.Y program participants, known as Team Mozart, will demonstrate their musical knowledge on “paper violins” and real violins. The concert is free and open to the public.
P.L.A.Y. Music is the Winston-Salem Symphony’s El Sistema-inspired program, which places an emphasis on the teaching of the whole child: head, heart, and hands. The central focus of the curriculum is instilling in each student a thankfulness for their background and place in the world, an appreciation for those different than themselves, a motivation to work with others in a team and to better themselves holistically through active contribution and participation in an ensemble. Additionally, the program strives to assist students to excel academically—particularly in the area of early childhood literacy—by creatively including academic activities in each music lesson.
Team Mozart is the primary level of string ensemble musicianship training and provides beginner K–2nd grade students the opportunity to develop basic musical skills including music notation, creative movement and dance, beginner violin techniques, and care, composition, improvisation, and solfege singing, which are all accomplished through participation in “paper orchestra” and beginner strings ensemble. Team Beethoven is the secondary level of string ensemble musicianship training and provides students upwards of 5th grade and graduates of Team Mozart the opportunity to further develop their musical skills. Team Beethoven students transition from the “general” music format of Team Mozart into a more formal “orchestral” setting through more consistent use of chairs, stands, music books, and an introduction to cello for select students in hopes of graduating into our newest, most advanced group—Team Brahms—or preparing them to successfully audition for the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestras Program.
About the Winston-Salem Symphony
The Winston-Salem Symphony, one of the Southeast’s most highly regarded regional orchestras, began its 73rd season in October 2019. The 2019–20 season is Timothy Redmond’s inaugural season as Music Director and will include Classics Series concerts featuring renowned guest artists such as Alexander Kobrin, Béla Fleck, Rachel Barton Pine, and more. In addition, the season will include a Pops series featuring the Indigo Girls on stage with the Symphony as well as the music of John Williams and a tribute to Tom Petty. A Carolina Christmas returns with special guest artists with North Carolina roots including Laurelyn Dossett. The annual performance of Handel’s Messiah returns along with the Concert for Community featuring Winston-Salem Symphony and Youth Symphony musicians, three youth orchestra ensembles, and a multitude of educational and community engagement programs, including the P.L.A.Y. (Piedmont Learning Academy for Youth) Music program providing, primarily to under-served youth, instrumental music instruction and more. The Symphony is supported by Season Presenting Sponsors BB&T and Bell, Davis & Pitt, P.A.; Redmond’s Inaugural Season Sponsor Mrs. Charles M. Howell; Symphony Unbound Sponsors Chris and Mike Morykwas; as well as generous funding from the Arts Council of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, the North Carolina Arts Council, and other dedicated sponsors. For more information, visit wssymphony.org.
# # #
