The Ensembles-in-Schools program allows small groups of Springfield Symphony musicians to travel to area elementary and middle schools to perform for the students. Each small ensemble presents a 30-minute program for as many as 200 students at each school visited. These brief programs are designed to heighten awareness of a variety of musical styles, to explain why different musical instruments create different sounds, and to demonstrate how music expresses emotions and creates beauty. A question-and-answer session following each performance allows the young students to learn from the musicians and creates a more rewarding educational experience for the students.

The Ensembles-in-Schools program provides a significant experience in musical education to over 4,000 young people in twenty-one area elementary and middle schools each season. This outreach is critically important to the quality of education in the Springfield community.

Both outreach programs are funded through the generosity of businesses, foundations and private individuals who show concern about the quality of life for area youth through education and cultural enrichment. Together, these programs will reach over 12,000 children this season, giving them important musical exposure to the performing arts. These projects and programs have become benchmarks of the Springfield Symphony.

The Springfield Symphony also collaborates with the Springfield Public Schools’ Foundation in the Young Composers’ Competition and with the Springfield Symphony Guild in awarding annual summer music camp scholarships to area high school students.

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