BEYOND THE CONCERT HALL: EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
Da Camera of Houston presents a variety of programs intended to enhance the appreciation of chamber music and jazz, and to make music a part of everyday life. These programs include:
A Little Day Music series of free concerts at the Wortham Center
The Guest Speaker Series of pre-concert talks
Stop, Look and Listen! family concerts at The Menil Collection
Mentors in Music master classes
the Young Artists Program, a chamber music and jazz professional development program for instrumentalists, singers and composers.
the annual Community Residency Project, bringing chamber music and jazz artists to Houston for extended visits to work with young musicians, give family concerts and visit area schools.
Da Camera in Your School concerts featuring jazz drummer/educator Samuel Dinkins III.
For more information about these programs, call 713-524-5050 or email boxoffice@dacamera.com.
DA CAMERA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM
In September of 2009, Da Camera of Houston launched the Young Artist Program, a chamber music and jazz professional development program for instrumentalists, singers and composers. Today, we’re proud to say that, with the help of the Young Artists, Da Camera is involved in the community, educating Houston public school students, more deeply than we have ever been. The Young Artist Program is designed to provide career-expanding experiences and training to the next generation of artists and educators, encouraging them to advocate for music in the community throughout their careers. It started in the spring of 2009, when 12 outstanding musicians, all in their mid to late 20’s, were selected through a rigorous audition process by an esteemed committee of local musicians and educators. Since then, the Da Camera Young Artists have participated in an exciting variety of performances, workshops and school visits. They have performed at the Wortham Center, The Menil Collection, HISD schools, even the AvantGarden nightclub. Following Da Camera’s unique approach to sharing music with schools -- the Music Encounters Program -- they have helped HISD students explore language arts, visual arts, history, science and math through live music.
In August, Da Camera holds auditions for a new group of Young Artists whose work in our community begins in the fall of 2010. For information, contact Director of Education Evan Leslie at eleslie@dacamera.com.
A LITTLE DAY MUSIC Downtown workers, schools, seniors and day care centers are among the many who enjoy Da Camera’s free lunchtime concerts on the first Wednesday of each month, October through May, at noon in the lobby of the Wortham Theater Center (500 Texas at Smith). Bring your lunch and enjoy the wide variety of artistsand ensembles presented this season. A Little Day Music is sponsored by Waste Management. The media sponsor is KUHF 88.7 FM.
Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. Please call 713-524-7601 or email outreach@dacamera.com.
STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN Da Camera and The Menil Collection present free family concerts This concert series on The Menil Collection campus has quickly become a popular family event. Combine a visit to the museum (where admission is always free) with an interactive and informative concert. The Menil Collection is located at 1515 Sul Ross, with free parking in the lot on West Alabama between Mandell and Mulberry. The series returns in the fall of 2010.
GUEST SPEAKER SERIES -- PRE-CONCERT TALKS Explore the music and the composers in pre-concert talks as prominent critics and writers share their insights into the masterworks you are about to hear. Previous pre-concert talks have featured poet Richard Howard, composers Zhou Long and Roberto Sierra, musicologists Howard Pollack and Paul Bertagnolli and Houston Chamber Choir's Robert Simpson. Concert tickets required. For tickets, call 713-524-5050 or subscribe now!
MENTORS IN MUSIC MASTER CLASSES
Da Camera has a long-standing tradition of offering master classes with renowned chamber music and jazz artists for local high school and university music students. The students perform and then receive invaluable coaching from these veteran artists, who often have extensive teaching experience. New this season, select classes are open to the public. During the 2009/2010 season, Da Camera offered master classes with cellist Steven Isserlis, pianist Seymour Lipkin, guitarist Eliot Fisk and pianist Sarah Rothenberg.
DA CAMERA GOES TO YOUR SCHOOL Jazz performances featuring drummer and music educator Sam Dinkins III Da Camera of Houston offers in-school performances by esteemed educator, bandleader and percussionist Sam Dinkins III. Introduce your students to jazz through one of Dinkins’ original one-hour programs, including “Cartoon Jazz,” “The African American Experience” and “The History of Jazz.” Sam Dinkins is an award-winning educator who has performed on Da Camera’s outreach events throughout the Houston area. For booking and pricing information, call (713) 524-7601 ext. 18 or email outreach@dacamera.com.
EDUCATION AND OUTREACH SPONSORS Da Camera of Houston’s education and outreach activities are supported by: The Boeing Company, Continental Airlines, H-E-B Tournament of Champions, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Target, Union Pacific, Waste Management, Whole Foods Market, The Williams Foundation, The Brown Foundation, Cullen Foundation, Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts, William E. and Natoma Pyle Harvey Charitable Trust, Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation, Houston Endowment, Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, Immanuel & Helen B. Olshan Foundation, The Powell Foundation, John T. Shea Foundation, The Simmons Foundation, The Wortham Foundation, Mid-America Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
