Missouri Symphony, Columbia Schools partnership makes 'music accessible for everyone'
A twittering bird, a cat, a duck, a boy, a wolf and hunters all make up the tale of "Peter and the Wolf." At least they do for Sergei Prokofiev when he wrote this musical piece in 1936 intended for young audiences.
Third graders from throughout Columbia on Thursday morning were brimming with excitement as they entered the Missouri Theater for a presentation of the musical folk tale by the Missouri Symphony.
For many of the students, this may be their first introduction to classical music, possibly their only interaction with classical music and it may be even their one and only visit to the Missouri Theater, said Breanna Kavanaugh, Columbia Public Schools fine arts director, and Trent Rash, Missouri Symphony executive director.
This is the sixth year the Missouri Symphony and Columbia schools have partnered to bring this presentation to community youngsters, with Rash saying he has met young students who end up coming back to the Missouri Theater for symphony concerts with their family.
This is Kavanaugh's first year as fine arts director, so much like the third graders, this is her first experience seeing the special concert.
"I am really excited for any opportunity we can get for kids experiencing the arts. Whether that is participating in it or viewing it. The fact that we can provide this in partnership with the Missouri Symphony is amazing for kids," she said.
The morning concert was attended briefly by Superintendent Brian Yearwood, who remarked it was exciting the see the partnership in action and the importance of the program for the district.
Before Thursday's concert, students in their classrooms were learning not only about the music but proper etiquette for seeing a live musical performance, Kavanaugh said.
"The kids getting off the bus this morning, there was tons of excitement, and also from the teachers," she said.
The concert for third graders is something Rash looks forward to every year, he said.
Along with "Peter and the Wolf," the symphony played selections from Piotr Tchaikovsky's "Album for the Young," an operatic performance from Amelia Lufkin of "Goodnight Moon" by Eric Whitacre and "Stars" by Mary Howe, all under the direction of Wilbur Lin.
"I think it is really important that we make music accessible to everyone because music is wonderful in so many ways. Whether it is helping with literacy, helping with numbers or even just music appreciation and going to concerts later in life," Rash said. "I hope these kids remember this for the rest of their lives. Kids who are now in high school still remember it."
He was able to observe a variety of engagement levels since he told the story of "Peter and the Wolf" as the symphony played the accompanying music.
"There were those I could tell were really thinking, trying to figure things out. There were those listening so closely they are reacting to the things happening in the story," Rash said.
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri Symphony presents 'Peter and the Wolf' to Columbia third graders
