Next Gen at the Center presents 'Mussorgsky in Miniature' on Oct. 30

BAY HARBOR — At 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 30, in partnership with the Traverse Symphony Orchestra and Interlochen Public Radio, the Great Lakes Center for the Arts will host its first Next Gen event of the 2023-24 school year entitled “Mussorgsky in Miniature: Pictures at an Exhibition – A Masterpiece in Narrative Style.”

Written by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874, “Pictures at an Exhibition” is a 10-piece piano suite based on works by Russian architect and painter Viktor Hartmann.

Ideal for students in grades 3-8, “Mussorgsky in Miniature" combines music, storytelling and visual art. A Traverse Symphony Orchestra (TSO) octet will perform on stage with images of Hartmann’s visual art that inspired Mussorgsky projected behind the musicians, and Kate Botello of Interlochen Public Radio's (IPR) “Kids Commute” program will narrate the event using storytelling and age-appropriate educational content that touches on musical composition, art, self-expression, empathy and historical context.

“We're so thrilled that IPR's Kate Botello and the Traverse Symphony Orchestra musicians will be able to present classical music to hundreds of kids here in Northern Michigan through this collaboration,” said Dr. Amanda Sewell, music director at Interlochen Public Radio. “We hope it sparks their interest and encourages them to listen even more!”

Angela Aleo, director of education and music librarian for the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, added that “The eight musicians from TSO, accompanied by IPR’s Kate Botello, will weave together the story, music and images of this masterwork, all while students experience the sights and sounds of live music at Great Lakes Center for the Arts."

Next Gen educates through the performing arts for students, pre-kindergarten through college, and provides teachers with lesson plans to extend learning anchored in on-site events.

“Mussorgsky in Miniature is the second event in a new style of collaborative programming for Next Gen,” said Next Gen Director Rachel Sytsma-Reed. “Regional arts organizations are coming together to create original, arts-based, educational programming that underscores our connections in Northern Michigan, helps build a stronger community network between the arts and education, and enables innovative thinking about how to best educate through the performing arts for the schools we are honored to serve.”

By attending Next Gen events, students can interact with and learn from world-class artists, whether they be dancers, musicians, comedy troupes or speakers. Presentations covering literature, history, government, dance, music or science have been well-attended by area schools.

As a bonus, students are invited to dress up in Victorian-era costumes in honor of Mussorgsky, the 19th century, and Halloween. Students in costume will have a chance to win some fun prizes.

Teachers (including homeschools) interested in reserving space to bring students to the center for this event may contact Rachel Sytsma-Reed at rachel@greatlakescfa.org or register online at greatlakescfa.org/next-gen.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Next Gen at the Center presents 'Mussorgsky in Miniature' on Oct. 30