JSO concert serves as a way to introduce youngsters to orchestra

JSO concert serves as a way to introduce youngsters to orchestra

by Shannon Maynard, for the Jackson Citizen Patroit
Monday, April 25, 2005

It was a concert for the whole family to enjoy as the Jackson Symphony Orchestra performed Sunday afternoon in the Western High School auditorium.

"The music made me want to get up and dance," said 18-year-old Sadie Jones of Parma. "The players really got into it."

After holding annual family concerts, including family music fairs, for the past nine years, the JSO is offering small family concerts after some of its Saturday night performances. About 40 people attended Sunday's performance

These concerts are geared toward children and offer a more casual environment for the musicians.

"The music was wonderful," said Mary Spring, development director for the JSO.

"The family concerts are something parents and grandparents can bring children to," she said. "It's a way for children to explore culture and orchestral music."

In addition to being held in the afternoon, the family concerts are more affordable than a Saturday concert.

The theme for Sunday's concert was Jackson Proms, based on the 19th century proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, which featured a lighter musical offering in the spring.

Two of the featured pieces included "A Medley from 'West Side Story'" and the fast moving, Celtic dance, "Lord of the Dance."

Anita Fobes of Pleasant Lake has been playing the cello with the JSO on and off for the past 20 years.

"I enjoy being in the sound," Fobes said. "It's different than listening to a CD. The sound is all around you."

The JSO's String Academy, 10 young string students from all over Jackson County, also participated in Sunday's performance.

In addition to private lessons, the students receive specialized instruction each week and are invited to rehearse with the symphony.

While 70 musicians typically perform for the JSO's Saturday concerts, there were only 45 playing at Sunday's family concert.

Part of gearing the family concerts toward children includes handing out music guides to them prior to the performance.

The music guides offers information about each instrument in the orchestra and fun activities such as coloring the orchestra and a word search with musical terms.

"The last song was awesome," said 7-year-old Henry Berkemeier of Jackson.