Children need music, but sadly, many dont have it in their lives. Through our outreach programs, we try to bring it to them. Our performers go into the public schools, we sponsor musical training for talented young people, and we provide free tickets to low-income families for both the family concert and our regular concerts. 

Our latest initiative is a partnership with the Lawrence Boys and Girls Club, a wonderful institution that serves hundreds of children from low-income families every day after school. Children naturally love music, but few in Lawrence have the opportunity to pursue their interest. This year we will be leading two choral groups at the Club one for teenagers and the other for younger children as well as a class in Eurhythmics. Next season, we plan to begin offering instrumental instruction as well. 

The Andover Chamber Music Series serves the community with an active outreach program for low-income children, their families and senior citizens:

A school-based musical enrichment program brings professional musicians into the Lawrence public schools where music programs have been cut. Hundreds of children enjoyed these performances in 2002.

Several hundred free tickets for the Family Concert are given to deserving families via the Lawrence public schools and social service agencies.

Discounted group tickets are available for seniors through the Andover Senior Center. ACMS Board Member Lee Thornton actively reaches out to retirement communities and invites them to ACMS performances.

The Massachusetts Cultural Council praised our efforts to serve the community in the following letter, dated May 31, 2002:

"Two years ago the MCC began an initiative to document innovative programs funded by Local Cultural Councils. This initiative seeks to raise visibility about how LCC-funded program build community. It focuses on program that foster collaboration, build community and showcase the work of individual artists. Projects considered innovative bridge social boundaries and develop important civic capacities, such as greater tolerance of differences, trust and consensus building and collaborative work habits. They strengthen connection between people and contribute to the overall well-being of the community. Your project, Musical Outreach Program, funded by the Lawrence Cultural Council, has been selected as an exemplary project.

Congratulations on developing a program that stands out among so many across the state. John F. Kennedy once said, 'I see little of more importance to the future of our country than full recognition of the place of the artist (scientist and humanist).'  Your project makes a contribution to the social fabric of community life in the state. Thank you for your efforts."

Daniel Kertzner, Program Coordinator, Communities Department, Massachusetts Cultural Council

More about ACMS outreach efforts...

In-school music enrichment program: Since the spring of 2001, ACMS has piloted a program to bring professional musicians into Lawrence schools to expose children to classical music and instruments. This highly interactive program, which has been well received by the children and staff alike, helps to fill a huge gap in music education in Lawrence. For many children, this is their only exposure to music and professional musicians. The plan is for ACMS to expand the number of school musical presentations in 2002 - 2003, to a total of 12 45-minute sessions for intimate groups of about 100 students per presentation.  

The goal is to expose students to chamber music, a variety of musical instruments and forms of expression, as well as provide models and encouragement for professional music careers. An ensemble of three professional musicians -- Julia Scolnik on flute, Mark Simcox on cello and Winston Pedrazas on violin  visit Lawrence schools. They engage students in a lively experiential introduction to their instruments and chamber music. They perform one or two short chamber works from the classical and jazz/pop genres, talk about the music and how their instrument contributes different sonorities to the work, and lead a question-and-answer session.  

Students have an opportunity to touch and hold the instruments, a few even get to play with the trio and make a quartet!  During visits to the Tarbox School this winter, children in grades one through four responded positively, eagerly raising their hands to ask and answer questions and participate fully. Mr. Pedrazas, the violinist, is Latino.  The children almost leapt off the gymnasium floor, waving their arms, when he asked, "Who here speaks Spanish?" He spoke to them briefly in Spanish and continued, "Who knows where Peru is?  Who knows what a Tango is?"  And then the musicians satisfied the childrens curiosity by playing a lively Tango!  

The Annual Family Concert introduces young people to the joys of chamber music in a live concert setting and provides another opportunity reach families from Lawrence through the distribution of free tickets.  After the concerts, children have the opportunity to meet and talk to the musicians, even handle some instruments. Our October 2001 concert featured the immensely popular Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, with WGBH radio host Richard Knisely narrating.  A capacity crowd filled the 600-seat Rogers Center for the Arts; 200 free tickets were distributed to Lawrence families through the schools and major community organizations such as the YWCA and Boys and Girls Club.  

Outreach to Senior Citizens: Discounted group rates are offered to senior citizens through the Andover Senior Center.  

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