Explore Music! is the formal music education and outreach program of the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale created to expose as many people as possible to symphonic music and to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. Five free, full symphony performances of two distinct concerts and nine individual programs encompass Explore Music! They include the following:
Free Children’s Concert: The concert is an annual program developed by Music Director, Anne Harrigan and the Billings Symphony to increase community awareness of symphonic music and to eliminate price as a barrier to attend a performance of the BSO&C. The concert features a guest artist, and the Rimrock Opera Chorus for Kids. In addition to two free performances at the ABT, each year an underserved community outside of Billings is selected, and through partnerships with the local school system, two additional performances of the Free Children’s Concert are staged.
Symphony in the Park, June 22, 2008: Symphony in the Park is the most elaborate musical showcase staged by the BSO&C. More people attend the outdoor concert at Pioneer Park than all regular BSO&C season concerts combined. The objective is to introduce the non-symphonic listener to classical music and to increase community awareness of the performing arts and the BSO&C. Along with light classical and pops-style music, the event offers picnic fare and an instrument petting zoo. Nearly 13,500 families, children, adults and seniors attend.
Adventures in Music , March 15, 2008, 8:00am-12noon: For more than 15 years, the Billings Symphony has worked with area arts and cultural organizations to offer 4th grade students from within 100 miles of Billings, an overview of the arts via this half-day, hands on music education workshop. Nearly 350 students who were nominated by their music teachers will have the opportunity to learn about the orchestra and chorale through their participation in a series of workshops with musicians, an instrument petting zoo, a Billings Symphony dress rehearsal. The purpose is to expose students to the arts as they contemplate enrollment in the band, orchestra or chorus upon entering the 5th grade.
Backstage at the Symphony : Two workshops, combined with corresponding Saturday concerts, provide valuable insight into the music and artistic discipline that make up the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale. Click here for a PDF of this season's two workshops.
Conductor in the Schools, weekdays throughout the school year: The BSO&C works with band, orchestra and chorus directors within a 100 mile radius of Billings to schedule a time for Music Director Anne Harrigan to be the guest conductor for one of their rehearsals. Harrigan provides a role model to approximately 500 participating students, grades 5-12, who learn about the commitment, dedication and determination required to become a professional musician.
Musicians in the Schools, weekdays throughout the school year: Nearly 2,500 children, grades K-12, at public and private schools within 100 miles of Billings, and students attending MSU-Billings and Rocky Mountain College, participate in learning about the instruments of the orchestra from small ensembles of BSO&C musicians, accessing symphonic music that might not otherwise be available to them, and developing a lifelong enjoyment of musical performance. Musicians are encouraged to share their personal stories about why they became musicians and who influenced their decision to study music; to discuss how music can be a lifelong avocation or vocation, and to show the flexibility of their instrument through the performance of a variety of genres of music. Click here for a School Visit Request Form.
Musicians after Hours, weekdays after school hours throughout the school year: This outreach program is not designed to be a music lesson. Rather, musicians are encouraged to use music as a way to begin a dialogue and to offer positive adult interactions with at-risk youth in our community. 1500 children ages 6-16 at after-school sites such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County, the YMCA, and Friendship House will be exposed to symphonic music and hear about the commitment and dedication it takes to become a professional musician.
Random Acts of Music, weekdays/weekends at various times: Small ensembles of BSO&C musicians are scheduled to perform in unusual and unexpected high-traffic locations such as at the airport, Rimrock Mall, or MetraPark in an effort to increase community awareness of symphonic music and the BSO&C as people go about their daily routines.
Rural Rhythms, weeknights with adequate travel time: Casual performances by small ensembles of BSO&C musicians are given in community spaces to more than 400 residents of rural communities to provide them better access to symphonic music. These presentations are arranged through partnerships with the following local arts agencies: Big Horn Arts & Crafts Association, Carbon County Arts Guild, Absarokee Fine Arts Guild, The Schoolhouse History & Art Center and the Wyoming Arts Council.
Rush Ticketing, Saturdays evenings of a BSO&C season concert, 6:00pm-6:30pm: In an effort to eliminate price as a barrier for people to attend a performance of the BSO&C, orchestra and balcony tickets may be purchased at a 50% discount on the evening of a season concert one hour prior to curtain, based on availability. Nearly 200 people take advantage of this offer each season.
Senior Series, weekdays at various times: Members of the BSO&C travel to retirement homes, assisted-living facilities, and low-income meal sites to perform for seniors in an environment that is comfortable and accessible to them. This program reaches 500 seniors who due to physical constraints, lack of transportation or price barriers otherwise would not be able to experience the joy of symphonic music.
In conclusion, it is important to note that community engagement is not something we believe occurs strictly as a result of an organized program. With 13% of our musicians traveling more than 100 miles or further to be a part of the Billings Symphony & Chorale, our outreach occurs informally on a daily basis around the region, as well as in Billings. Our musicians are music teachers in their communities’ schools, private music teachers, and members of their churches’ choirs. They come together in small ensemble groups such as the Yellowstone Chamber Players, and perform with other area arts organizations, for instance in the pit orchestra of Rimrock Opera. This ripple effect makes the impact of the Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale exponentially greater than any estimate of people we think we are going to reach, and it helps us illustrate the intrinsic role it plays in creating the cultural fiber of the communities we serve.
